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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
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A PRINCESS OF THE
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Ste&tnii&fjTnj 5&&yiv?iuZ>y/j%
GIULIA GONZAGA (reputed).
Sebastiano del Piombo.
Formerly in the Bandini Palace, Rome.
A PRINCESS OF THE
ITALIAN REFORMATION
GIULIA GONZAGA
I 5 I 3~ J 5 66
HER FAMILY AND HER FRIENDS
BY
CHRISTOPHER HARE
AUTHOR OF
'LADIES OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE," "THE LIKE OF LOUIS XL,
"ISABELLA OF MILAN," ETC.
"Giulia Gonzaga, che le luci sante
E i suoi pensier siccome strali al segno
Rivolti a Dio, in lui viva, in se morta
Di null' altro si ciba, e si consorta."
Tasso
NEW YORK
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
153-157 FIFTH AVENUE
U
AM\
M-G%o<?3
r-^
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
PAGES
Concerning the family of Gonzaga — Birth and lineage of Giulia
Gonzaga — Lodovico III., Marchese of Mantua, marries
Barbara of Brandenburg — Before his death he divides his
estates amongst his sons : the eldest, Federico, succeeds
him in the title and the State of Mantua, while Gian-
francesco, his mother's favourite, receives Bozzolo and
Sabbioneta — He marries Antonia del Balzo, and their
granddaughter is Giulia Gonzaga, the heroine of this
Memoir — Her early life and education — Story of Antonia
del Balzo— The wedding feast of a Gonzaga Princess, told
by Matteo Bandello - - - - - i— 8
CHAPTER II
Happy family life at Gazzuolo — Giulia's- eldest brother, Luigi
Rodomonte Gonzaga, represents his father at the funeral of
the Marchese Francesco— Gallant adventures of Luigi— ^He
is in the service of the Emperor Charles V., and pays a
visit to England with him — Poetry of Luigi — Giulia Gonzaga
noted for her talent and beauty — She is invited to accom-
pany the Marchesa of Mantua, Isabella d' Este, to
Rome ------- g — 20
CHAPTER III
The journey to Rome — Giulia travels by the river to Ferrara,
where Isabella d' Este and her train are received by her
brother, Duke Alfonso d' Este — Onwards to Ravenna and
Rimini, the home of the Malatesta — The travellers are wel-
comed at Pesaro and then at Urbino by the Dowager-
CONTENTS
PASES
Duchess Elisabetta Gonzaga, and the Duchess Leonara,
daughter of Isabella d' Este — On the journey beyond Loreto
they receive news of the Battle of Pavia (February 24, 1525)
— The arrival in Rome — Isabella d' Este has an interview
with Pope Clement VII. — Life in the Colonna Palace 21 — 33
CHAPTER IV
Pages from the Day-Book of Giulia Gonzaga : Her life in Rome,
at the Colonna Palace (June, 1525) — Account of literary
gathering of distinguished men — The Bishops Chiericati,
Sadolato, and others ; Pietro Bembo, Paolo Giovio, the poet
Molza, etc. — Discussions on many subjects — A visit to the
Salviati Palace ; Maria Salviati, wife of Giovanni delle
Bande Nere, her father and mother — Luigi Rodomonte
comes to Rome — His enthusiasm for Ariosto ; he tells the
story of the " Orlando Furioso " — Other events of that
winter (1525) ------ 34—51
CHAPTER V
Day-Book of Giulia Gonzaga (continued) : Vittoria Colonna in
Rome, after the death of her husband, the Marchese di
Pescara — Her story and her sonnets — The great Lord
Vespasiano Colonna, son of Prospero Colonna, is a suitor
for the hand of Giulia Gonzaga — Their splendid wedding
takes place on June 26, 1526 — Account of the ride across
the Campagna, and the coming to the Castello of Pagliano
(End of Giulia's Day-Book) - 52 — 67
CHAPTER VI
The political situation of Italy in the year 1526 — The Colonna
Raid upon Rome — Pope Clement VII. takes his revenge —
Rivalry between Spain and France — The Pope's double-
dealing — Overwhelming invasion of Italy and sack of Rome ;
a time of unspeakable horror — Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga
protects Isabella d' Este, and helps the Pope to escape from
Rome — Death of Giulia's husband, Vespasiano Colonna,
March 27, 1527 — His will — Pagliano defended by Luigi
from the Orsini — He becomes betrothed to Isabella
Colonna ._.... 68 — So
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VII
PAGES
Luigi Rodomonte wounded at Viterbo — Death of Giulia's
mother, Francesca Pieschi, and of her brother, Cardinal
Pirro Gonzaga — Her father takes orders, and is known as
the Abate Lodovico — Luigi attends the coronation of the
Emperor Charles V. at Bologna— Some time later the mar-
riage of Luigi and Isabella Colonna is formally announced
— Giulia visits Lombardy and her home — Birth of Vespasiano
Colonna Gonzaga — His father, Luigi Rodomonte, is wounded
at Vicovero, and dies, 1532 — His will- - - 81 — 96
CHAPTER VIII
Description of the ancient city of Fondi, where Giulia Gonzaga
held her splendid Court — Unique literary and artistic centre
— Her friendship with Vittoria Colonna — Poets and histor-
ians unite in their praises of Giulia Gonzaga Colonna —
Quotations from the works of Ariosto, Tasso, Flaminio,
Molza, and others — A " Golden Age " at Fondi — Her por-
trait is painted by Sebastiano del Piombo, by command of
the Cardinal dei Medici — His devotion to Giulia — The
story of Ippolito's life — He is made Cardinal by his uncle,
Clement VII. — He is present at the marriage of Catherine
dei Medici with'Henri, second son of Francois I., King of
France- ------ gy — IIO
CHAPTER IX
1534— '■The Barbary Corsairs raid the Mediterranean coasts —
Attempt of Kher-el-dln (better known as the younger Bar-
barossa) to carry off the beautiful Countess of Fondi to the
Sultan, Suleyman II. — He lands at Sperlonga with his pirate
bands, and reaches Fondi in the dead of night — The hair-
breadth escape of Giulia Gonzaga, and her flight through
the darkness — Her city and palace sacked, and many of her
people massacred by the Corsairs — Cardinal Ippolito dei
Medici heads the avenging army — All Christendom is roused
— " La Ninfa fugitiva " — Expedition of the Emperor Charles
V. against Tunis and Barbarossa - - 111 — 121
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
PAGES
Trouble between Giulia Gonzaga and Isabella Colonna concern-
ing the will of Vespasiano Colonna — Isabella is in constant
strife with her husband's relations — Cardinal Ippolito dei
Medici is sent from Florence by the fuorisciii on an
embassy to the Emperor in Tunis — He pays a visit to Giulia
at Fondi, and then passes on to Itri — Here he is poisoned
by the treachery of Duke Alessandro of Florence — Giulia
hastens to Itri, and is with him in his last hours till his
death, on August 7, 1535 — Her bereavement an undying
sorrow to Giulia — Deeply mourned by all, Ippolito is borne
to Rome and buried with stately funeral honours - 122 — 132
CHAPTER XI
The Emperor Charles V. takes possession of Tunis — He sails
thence to Sicily, and appoints Ferrante Gonzaga Governor
of the island — On arriving at Naples the Emperor desires
to meet the Countess of Fondi, and invites her to his Court —
He finds a husband for the young widow, Isabella Colonna,
Charles de Lannoy Prince of Sulmona, the son of his
General at Pavia — The marriage takes place in February,
1536 — Giulia Gonzaga obtains leave from the Pope to live
in the Convent of San Francesco delle Monache at Naples
— She attends the preaching of Fra Ochino, and becomes
an earnest disciple of the reformer, Juan Valdes — At her
suggestion he writes his famous " Alfabeto Cristiano " —
Concerning other religious works of Valdes — His gathering
of friends at Chiaja for Christian discourse — Letter of
George Herbert on the translation of his works - 133 — 146
CHAPTER XII
Strong movement for religious reform in Italy, but no desire for
schism against Rome — Great ladies take a foremost part in
the awakening of religious zeal : Giulia Gonzaga, Vittoria
Colonna, Rende of Ferrara, Costanza d' Avalos, Isabella
Brisegna, and others — Wonderful results of the teaching of
Valdes at Naples — His writings : " Dialogo de Mercurio y
Caron," the "Alfabeto Cristiano," the "no Considera-
viii
CONTENTS
„ _ , PASES
tiones, Translations of the Psalms, the Gospels, and Epistles
— Also the " Beneficio," by a disciple of his, which spread his
views throughout all Italy— Death of Valdes, 1541 - 147—162
CHAPTER XIII
The Reformation in Italy (continued) — Renee, Duchess of Fer-
rara, Olympia Morata ; life of Caterina Cibo (who died at
Florence, 1557)— Persecution and flight of Fra Bernardino
Ochino, Peter Martyr, and others — Giulia Gonzaga is a
guiding spirit of the cause at Naples— Death of Madonna
Antonia del Balzo, 1538, and the Abate Lodovico, father
of Giulia — She then becomes the guardian of her
nephew Vespasiano, son of her brother, Luigi Rodomonte
Gonzaga ...... ^3 — 175
CHAPTER XIV
Giulia Gonzaga at Naples devotes herself to the education of
Vespasiano, her nephew and her ward — She is painted by
Titian — She writes to Charles V. on behalf of Vespasiano
—He is appointed page to the Archduke Philip — Marriage
schemes for the boy — Giulia visits her home in Lombardy,
1546 — Her stay at Gazzuolo ; many changes, loss of loved
relations and friends, amongst them Isabella d' Este —
Letter from Vittoria Colonna ; her death in 1546 — An
attempt to establish the Inquisition at Naples is met with
insurrection of the people - 176 — 192
CHAPTER XV
1548 — Vespasiano Colonna in Spain — He comes to Italy in the
train of the Archduke Philip ; is present at the marriage of
Isabella Gonzaga — He visits Mantua — The Duchess
Margherita Paleologa, a friend of his aunt Giulia, is Regent
of Mantua for two of her sons in succession, Francesco
and Guglielmo — -Vespasiano first meets Donna Diana di
Cardona— The Council of Trent (1549), and the famous
compromise, the " Interim " — Private marriage of Vespasi-
ano with Diana di Cardona — Death of Pope Paul III. —
The war of Parma, in which Vespasiano takes part— He is
ix
CONTENTS
PAGES
wounded, and cared for at Naples by his aunt Giulia — 1553 —
He fights in Picardy — Giulia's letters to Diana di Cardona —
Vespasiano is taken prisoner in the war of Flanders - 193 — 207
CHAPTER XVI
The life and death of Ippolita Gonzaga ; Giulia's devotion to
her — Marriage of a daughter of Isabella Colonna — The
story of Count Galeazzo Caraccioli, a disciple of Valdes —
Other friends of Giulia : Onerata Tancredi, a lady of Siena ;
Isabella Brisegna ; Cardinal Seripando ; Pietro Carne-
secchi ; Margherita Paleologa, Duchess of Mantua, etc.—
Adventures of Vespasiano in various wars ; he is wounded
at Ostia — He returns to Sabbioneta ; tragic death of his
wife, Donna Diana di Cardona - 208 — 222
CHAPTER XVII
Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna resolves to build a city at Sab-
bioneta, 1559 — How the great work was begun, according
to the teaching of Vitruvius — The most famous architects,
sculptors, wood-carvers, and artists of the day were em-
ployed — Massive walls of red brick, stone, and rare
marbles for the palaces, colleges, churches, city gates and
triumphal arches — In three years the city rises like magic
from the ground and is filled with inhabitants, at the com-
mand of the Lord Vespasiano — He visits Spain at the
summons of Philip II., and marries the Princess Anna
d' Aragona, of the blood royal — Love and sympathy of
Giulia Gonzaga — There are born to him twin daughters
and a son ...... 223 — 236
CHAPTER XVIII
Persecution of those who hold Reformed doctrines, by the
Pope, Paul IV. (Caraffa) — Giulia Gonzaga and her friends
in great peril — The colony of Protestant Waldenses in
Calabria hunted down like wild beasts — Giulia refuses to
seek safety in flight — Her letters to Pietro Carnesecchi
and others ; her generous help to all — The death of Pope
Paul IV. (1559) a providence for her — Failure of the
CONTENTS
PAGES
Council of Trent — Milder rule of Pope Pius IV, (Medici)—
He is succeeded by Michele Ghislieri, Pope Pius V., a
violent Inquisitor, in January, 1566 — Urgent peril of Giulia
Gonzaga ; her death in April, 1566, a merciful escape from
the flames of the Inquisition — Her noble character and
inspiring letters ..... 237 — 255
CHAPTER XIX
The will of Giulia Gonzaga leaves all her possessions to her
beloved nephew Vespasiano — Mysterious illness of his
wife, Anna d' Aragona — He is made Vice-Duca of Casale
Monferrato — Interesting literary society, of which Guazzo
writes — Vespasiano is again called to Spain by Philip II.,
and devotes many years to works of defence and fortifica-
tion on the coasts of Spain and Africa — Made Viceroy of
Navarre — Death of his mother Isabella ; he succeeds to
the vast Colon na estates — Returns to Sabbioneta and
devotes himself to its greatness and splendour — Laden
with honours and dignities, Vespasiano dies in 1591,
leaving as heir his surviving daughter Isabella, wife of
the Prince of Stigliano — With the death of the Master-
Builder there fades away all the pomp and glory of his
beloved city of Sabbioneta - 256 — 273
Concerning the Pictures of Giulia Gonzaga - - 274
Appendix ------- 275 — 285
Index .-...-.. 286
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
TO FACE PAGE
Giulia Gonzaga {Reputed) - - - Frontispiece
By Sebastiano del Piombo, formerly in Bandini Palace, Rome.
Family of Lodovico Gonzaga, Marchese of Mantua,
Ancestor of Giulia - - - - - 16
By Andrea Mantegna, Mantua.
Lodovico Ariosto (Reputed) - - - - - 48
By Titian, National Gallery.
Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici and the Artist - - 112
By Sebastiano del Piombo, National Gallery.
Giulia Gonzaga (Reputed) - 144
By Sebastiano del Piombo, Longford Castle Gallery (by kind
permission of Lord Radnor).
Giulia Gonzaga, Countess of Fondi - 176
Painter unknown ; Hof Museum, Vienna.
Giulia Gonzaga (Reputed), with Attributes of St. Catherine 208
By Sebastiano del Piombo, formerly in Bandini Palace, Rome.
Giulia Gonzaga (Reputed), with Attributes of St. Agatha - 256
By Sebastiano del Piombo, National Gallery.
INTRODUCTION
At the name of Giulia Gonzaga there rises before us a
vision of romance and beauty, set forth against that
sumptuous background of pomp and pageant — the later
Renaissance in Italy. To us in these prosaic days, it
seems a time of fantastic illusions and dramatic episodes,
when splendid knights in velvet and brocade, glittering
with silver armour and plumed helmets, rode forth to
battle as to a tournament. They besieged and scaled
picturesque citadels perched upon blue olive-clad hills, or
towering over verdant meadows and silvery streams ; with
sculptured cannons they battered against city gates, superb
with armorial bearings ; they bore classic names — Vespa-
sian, Hercules, Csesar, Coriolanus, Rodomonte — and if by
chance they fell — with their shining arms, by the side of
their mighty steeds — they were magnificent even in death.
In reading their tangled story, it often appears to be
quite a secondary matter on which side they fought —
whether for Emperor, or Pope, or King of France, for
themselves, or even on some trivial pretext concerning
the boundary of a petty State. To add to our sense of
Unreality, these stately warriors all wrote poetry — like
everybody else — and it became almost a point of chivalry
for the victor to console the vanquished hero with a
sonnet or an epigram — to set him free and send him
rejoicing on his way.
xv
INTRODUCTION
The visionary scenes rise before us like pictures in
some tapestry, and we scarcely wonder at an interlude
in which a Gonzaga princess of enchanting beauty nar-
rowly escapes being carried off to the Sultan by a horde
of invading Corsairs. Or again, when, between a siege
and a battle, the magnificent Lord of Sabbioneta com-
mands a city to rise from the dust, and, in three brief
years, we see it complete in Palladian splendour, enclosed
within geranium-coloured walls, with streets of colleges
and frescoed palaces, with stately churches and carved
triumphal arches.
It may well seem that to this romantic period belong
the earlier years of Giulia Gonzaga's eventful life : her
marvellous childhood, when already her beauty and talent
had been sung by many a poet; her triumphal visit to
Rome as one of the bevy of fair damsels in the train of
Isabella d' Este ; and her marriage at the age of thirteen
to the most splendid of the Colonna princes. Left a
widow at fifteen, the Countess of Fondi barely avoids
paying the penalty of her far-famed loveliness when the
Corsairs of Barbarossa make a raid on her palace to carry
her to the Sultan. We thrill with horror at the hair-
breadth escape of the " Ninfa fugitiva" and her terrible
flight, bare-foot and half-clad, through the darkness of
the night, with only one faithful attendant. To avenge
this insult, all Christendom was roused to action, and
" a thousand swords were ready to spring from their
scabbards."
Foremost amongst the champions of Giulia is the
young Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici, her constant and
devoted servant until his tragic death, which brought to
a close that most pathetic of love-stories. For Giulia
Gonzaga henceforth the days of romance are over, and
INTRODUCTION
in the prime of her youth and beauty she turns away from
the pomps and pageants of this mortal life.* The Colonna
princess forsakes her beautiful home at Fondi, her splendid
Court which was looked upon by poets, artists, and philo-
sophers, as bringing back the " Golden Age," to seek the
seclusion of a cloister at Naples.
Now all is changed, and the later part of Giulia's story
leads us from the world of Romance to the stern realities
of an awakened Faith and religious persecution. We see
our noble lady in a new phase of her character — first an
earnest pupil of the Reformed doctrines, then an heroic
champion and supporter of her friends who are called
upon to suffer for their Faith. With splendid courage,
she refuses to seek safety in flight, and barely escapes the
martyr's last ordeal in the cruel flames of the Inquisition.
Her only link with the world, where she had once
reigned so brilliantly, remains in her guardianship of her
beloved nephew, Vespasiano Colonna Gonzaga, whose
flamboyant story carries us back to the most sumptuous
era of the Renaissance in Italy.
* When Ippolito died in 1535, Giulia Gonzaga was not yet twenty-
two.
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SOME BOOKS CONSULTED
Achiardi, Pietro d'. Sebastiano del Piombo. 1908,
Affo, P. Ireneo. Vita di Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga.
„ ,, Vita di Vespasiano Gonzaga. Parma, 1780.
„ „ Memorie di tre principesse della famiglia Gon-
zaga.
Agostini, A. Pietro Carnesecchi e il movimento Valdesiano.
Florence, 1899.
Aldimari. Historia genealogica della famiglia Caraffa. Napoli,
1691.
Amabile. II Sant' Officio della Inquisitione di Napoli. Citta di
Castell, 1892.
Amani. Memorie Estor. di Fano.
Amante, Dott. Bruto. Giulia Gonzaga, Contessa de Fondi.
Bologna, 1896.
Ammirato. Opusculi.
Aretino, Pietro. Lettere di.
Ariosto, Ludovico. Orlando Furioso. Ferrara (M. Francesco da
Valenza), 1516.
Armstrong, Edward. The Emperor Charles V. London, 1902.
Atanagi, M. Dionigi. De le rime di diversi nobili poeti toscani.
Venezia, 1565.
Baguenault de Puchesse, F. Histoire du Concile de Trente.
Paris, 1870.
Bandello, Matteo. Le Novelle. Lucca (Busdrago), 1554.
Beccadilli, Lodovico. Vita del Cardinal Pole (e Monument!).
Bologna, 1797.
Bembo, Pietro. Opere (V. Cian). Torino, 1887.
Benedetti, Alessandro. Fatto d' arme del Taro.
Benrath, K. Biografia di Bernardino Ochino. Leipzig, 1875.
„ Julia Gonzaga. Halle, 1900.
xx
SOME BOOKS CONSULTED
Bergamaschi, S. Domenico. Storia di Gazolo. In Casalmaggiore,
1883.
Bertolotti. Artisti in relazione coi Gonzaga, Signori di Mantova.
Modena, 1885-1894.
Betussi, Giovanni. Delle Donne illustre, vita di Boccaccio. In
Vinegia, MDLVIII.
Bohemer. Le cento e dieci divine considerazione di Gio. Valdes.
Halle, i860.
Bonnet. Vie d' Olympia Morata. Paris, 1851.
Braghirolli, W. Tiziano alle Corte dei Gonzaga. Perugia, 1881.
Campana, Albero di. Modena, 1885.
Campori. Lettere di scultori Italiano.
Cantu, C. Gli Eretici d' Italia. 3 vols. Turin, 1865.
Caraccioli, A. De vita Pauli IV. Cologne, 1612.
Caro, Annibal. Delle lettere familiare. Venezia, 1756.
Carrasco, Manuel. Alfonso et Juan de Valdes. Geneve, 1880.
Castiglione, Baldassare. II libro del Cortegiano. Venezia, 1528.
Ciuffi, V. Memorie storiche della citta di Traetto. Napoli, 1851.
Collenuccio. Comp. delle storie del Regno di Napoli.
Coppi, Antonio. Memorie Colonnese. 1855.
Creighton, D. History of the Papacy. 1897.
Crescimbeni. Poems.
Colocci, Angelo. Poesie Italiane e Latine. In Jesi, 1772.
Daino. Cronic. Mantuan MS.
Dolce, M. Lodovico. Stanze di illustri poete. Venezia, 1558.
Donesmondi. Storia ecclesiastica di Mantova. 1613.
Duruy, G. Le Cardinal Carlo Caraffa. Paris, 1882.
Equicola, Mario. Storia di Mantova. 1610.
Farnese, Carteggio del. Pier Luigi. Ed. A. Caro. Milan, 1807.
Faroldi, Giulio. Vita di Vespasiano Gonzaga. MS.
Farra, Alessandro. Settimania dell' umana riduzione.
Feliciangeli, F. Dott. Notizie e documenti sulla vita di Caterina
Cibo Duchessa di Camerina. Ivi, libreria Fattorino, 1891.
Feliciangeli, F. Dott. Alcune lettere di Principesse di Casa
Gonzaga. Imola, 1879.
Ferrari, L. A. Lorenzino de' Medici e la societa cortegiano.
Milano (Hoepli), 1891.
Ferrato, P. Lettere inedite di donne Mantovane del secolo XV.
1878.
SOME BOOKS CONSULTED
Forcella. Iscrizione delle chiese e altre edifizie di Roma.
Fontana, Bartolommeo. Renata di Francia, Duchessa di Fcrrara.
Rome, 1889.
Fornari, Simon. La Spositione sopra 1' Orlando Furioso. In
Firenze, 1549.
Gaddi, Jacopo. Adlocutiones e Elogia.
Galiffe, G. Le Refuge Italien de Geneve au XVI. et XVII. Siecles.
Geneve, 1881.
Gerdes, Danieles. Italiae Reformats. 1765.
Giannone. Storia di Napoli.
Giovio, Paolo. Ragionamento sopra i motti e i disegni d' armi e
d' armore Milano. 1863.
Giovo, Paulo. Elogie, etc. Firenze, 1557.
„ „ Lettere Volgare. Venezia, 1560.
„ „ Histoirie . . .
Giustinopolitano, Muzio. Egloghe. Venezia, 1550.
Gonzaga, Curzio. II fido amante.
Gonzagium Monumentum MS.
Graf. Attraverso il cinquecento. Torino (Loescher) 1888.
Guazzo, Marco. Istorie. Storie Imprese, 1540.
Guazzo, Stefano. Conversazione civile. Venezia, 1575.
Guicciardini, Fr. Storia d' Italia. Firenze, 1822.
„ II Sacco di Roma. Paris, 1644.
Haile, Martin. Life of Cardinal Pole.
Informazione della Causa di Casalmaggiore.
Intra, G. B. Monografia sopra Sabbioneta.
Lamo, Alessandro. Discorso intorno all scoltura, etc. Cremona,
IS84-
Lavallee, J. Histoire des Inquisitions Religieuses. 2 vols. Paris,
1808.
Lee, F. G. Reginald Pole, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.
London, 1888.
Lisca, Alessandro. Istoria.
Litta, P. Famiglie celebri Italiane. Milano, 1819-1858.
Marcobruni, Paolo Emilio. Lettere raccolte da. Venezia, 1595.
McCrie. History of the Reformation in Italy. Edinburgh, 1827.
Miccio. Vita di Pietro di Toledo. 1846.
Molza. Poesie del, raccolte dal Serassi. Bergamo, 1754.
Muller e Ferrero. Carteggio di Vittoria Colonna. Torino, 1889.
xxii
SOME BOOKS CONSULTED
Muratori, L. A. Annali d' Italia. Florence, 1740.
Nichols, F. H. Epistles of Erasmus. London, igoi.
Ochino, Bernardino. Prediche predicate nell' inclita citta di
Venezia del 1539. Basilica, 1541.
Ochino, Bernardino. Sermones, Dialoghi, etc. Published at Basle
and Geneva, 1541-1554.
Paleario, Aonio. (Works of.) Trattato del Beneficio di Cristo (?)
Opera. Jena, 1728.
Pallavicino, Sforza. Istoria del Concilio di Trente. Roma,
1833-
Pichot. Charles Quint : Chronique de sa Vie. Paris, 1854.
Poggiali. Mem. Istorie di Piacenza.
Pole, Reginald, Cardinal. Epistolae, etc. Ed. Quirini. Brescia,
1744.
Porrino, Gandolfo. Rime di. Venezia (per Michele Tramezzino),
MDLI.
Reumont. Vittoria Colonna. Freiberg, 1881.
Ricotti. Delle rivoluzione protestante. Florence, 1861.
Rizzardi, F. Veronica Gambara : Rime e lettere raccolte. Brescia,
1759-
Rosso, Gregorio. Istoria delle cose de Napoli sotto 1' imperio di
Carlo V. dal 1526 al 1557. Napoli (Montanaro), 1635.
Ruscelli. Codice d' imprese in Mantova.
Ruscelli, G. Lettere di Principe. Venezia, 1574.
Sadoleto, I. Opera. 4 Vols. Venezia, 1787.
Sala, A. Biografia di S. Carlo Borromeo. Milano, 1858.
San Secondo, Conte di. Copia di lettere del.
Sansovino. L' historia di Casa Orsini. Venezia, 1565.
„ Dell' origine e di fatti delle famiglie illustri d' Italia.
Venezia, 1582.
Schlopis, F. Le Cardinal Jean Morone. Paris, 1869.
Schlosser, C. Baza und Peter Martyr Vermigli. Heidelberg,
1809.
Schmidt, Dr. C. Peter Martyr Vermigli. Eberfeld (von R. L.
Fridericks), 1858.
Segni. St. Florentine Milano, 1805.
Serassi. Vita del MolZa, che precede le poesie di questo. Milano,
1808.
Serassi. Notizie di Cesare Gonzaga.
xxiii
SOME BOOKS CONSULTED
Summonte. Dell' istoria delle citta e regno di Napoli. Vol. IV.
Napoli, 1675.
Symonds, J. A. Renaissance in Italy. 7 vols. London, 1875-1886.
Tasso, Bernardo. Le lettere di, e poesia. Venezia, 1612.
Tasso, Torquato. Poesie.
Tiraboschi, Girolamo, Abate. Storia della literatura Italiana.
Milan, 1824.
Tolomei. Lettere di M. Claudio, Vinegia, 1565.
Toscanella, Orazio. Bellezze del Furioso di V Ariosto. . Venezia,
IS74-
Tramezzino. Pompe funer. nelle morte di Signor Luigi Gonzaga.
i5Si-
Ulloa, A. Vita del gran Capitano Don F. Gonzaga nella quale . . .
si descrivono le guerre d' Italia e di altri paesi, 1525-57.
Venezia, 1563.
Valdes, Juan. Alfabeto Cristiano.
„ „ Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron.
„ „ no Divine considerazione.
„ „ XVII Opusculi. Translated from Spanish and
Italian, and edited by J. I. Betts.
„ „ Epistle to the Romans. Translated. Triibner,
1882.
Gospel of St. Matthew. Translated, 1882. 1883.
„ „ Epistle to Corinthians. (Juan Perez.)
„ „ Psalms.
Vergerio, P. P. Opera. Tubingen, 1560.
Wiffen, Benjamin P. Life and Writings of Juan Valdes. London,
1865.
Young. Life of Aonio Paleario. London, i860.
Zaccaria. Annali de' frati minori cappuccini. Venezia, 1643.
Also a great number of letters written to Giulia Gonzaga by
personal friends, amongst whom the most notable are Vittoria
Colonna, Bernardo Tasso, and above all, Pietro Carnesecchi.
A large collection of Giulia's own letters, on which volumes might
be written. These include 81 more important letters, from which I
have largely quoted ; and 129 others, unedited, written between the
year 1533 and her death in 1566.
A PRINCESS OF THE ITALIAN
REFORMATION
CHAPTER I
Concerning the Gonzaga family — Lodovico III., Marchese of Mantua,
divides his estates, leaving Bozzolo and Sabbioneta to his second
son Gianfrancesco, who marries Antonia del Balzo — Giulia
Gonzaga is their granddaughter — Her early life and education —
Story of Antonia del Balzo — A wedding feast described by
Matteo Bandello.
At the beginning of the sixteenth century the Gonzaga
family held a high position amongst the rulers of Northern
Italy. They had reigned in Mantua for nearly *wo cen-
turies since the first Lodovico Gonzaga had been chosen
Vicar-General by the Emperor. The family had risen
still higher in importance when a son of Gianfrancesco,
the first Marchese of Mantua, married Barbara of Branden-
burg. This Lodovico III. was persuaded by his wife to
divide his States amongst his sons : the eldest, Federico,
succeeded him in the title and the domains of Mantua ;
while Gianfrancesco, his mother's favourite, received
Bozzolo and Sabbioneta.* He married Antonia del Balzo,
and of this charming and accomplished lady we shall
hear much hereafter, as she survived most of her grand-
children.
Their eldest son Lodovico, who succeeded his father in
* See Genealogy I.
A PRINCESS OF THE
1496, married Francesca Fieschi, daughter of Gian Luigi
Fieschi, Lord of Genoa, and to them was born the peer-
less Giulia Gonzaga, the subject of this Memoir. The
date of her birth was 15 13,* and she was one of a large
family of sons and daughters. The eldest, Luigi, was
born in Mantua on August 15 in the year 1500, and was
of such splendid strength and stature that he was distin-
guished by the name of " Rodomonte." The next son was
called Pirro, and the third Gianfrancesco, to which was
added " Cagnino," to distinguish him from his kinsmen
of the same name. As for the sisters, there were Paola,
Ippolita and Leonora, Caterina and Elisabetta, all beautiful
and accomplished ; but we are told that Giulia, one of the
youngest, far surpassed them in every way. Their early
home was in the Castello of Gazzuolo, well situated above
the steep banks of the Oglio, a typical slow-flowing river
of the plains of Lombardy.
This branch of the Gonzaga family was famous, even in
those gallant days, for the splendid valour of the men and
the beauty of its women. This last they owed in a great
measure to the mother of Lodovico, Madonna Antonia del
Balzo, who was not only beautiful, but accomplished in
art and letters, retaining her wonderful charm and influ-
ence to extreme old age. She was the daughter of Pirro,
Prince of Altamura, heir of Des Baux, a Provencal family
so ancient as to dim the glory of all other boast of long
descent, for they claimed as their ancestor King Baldassare,
one of the three Magi, and proudly bore upon their coat-of-
arms the Star of Bethlehem. Her husband, Gianfrancesco
Gonzaga, had died in 1496, and the widowed Marchesa
made her home chiefly with her eldest son, Lodovico, the
father of Giulia to whom she was specially devoted, and
* " Amante," Giulia Gonzaga, p. 4.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
who early learnt to share her grandmother's tastes in
literature. Madonna Antonia was an intimate friend of
Isabella d'Este, and we find in their letters many interest-
ing allusions to the books they both loved. As Antonia
said in one of her letters : "At this time, when I am often
unwell, and not able to go out much, I like to have books
read aloud to me, and thus pass the time pleasantly. . . .
Monsignore Lodovico especially loves the French romances,
and is glad to have them, as he has a youth in his house-
hold who is writing a book about Orlando, and hopes to
find some new incident in them. . . ."*
There is a charming letter of dedication to Madonna
Antonia by Matteo Bandello at the head of one of his
novelle.f In it he gives a delightful account of the
wedding at Casalmaggiore of Camilla, the youngest and
most charming of her seven daughters — an excellent
musician, who was wont to accompany her sweet voice
on the viol. Her elder sisters were all married to noble
gentlemen of Mantua or Milan ; but the bridegroom on this
occasion was a very great lord of the Kingdom of Naples —
Alfonso Castriotti, the Marchese Tripalda. The wedding
took place in the month of June, 15 17, and was probably
one of the most striking events of Giulia's young life.
This is the story of it, as told by the lively friar :
"II Bandello a I'lllustriss. et Eccellentiss. Heroina Madama
la Signore Antonia Bautia, Marchese di Gonzaga.
" Sal.
"At the most honourable and sumptuous wedding at
Casalmaggiore, in the Diocese of Cremona and your
Castello, so magnificently celebrated, when the virtuous
* The poet Lodovico Ariosto, who wrote the "Orlando Furioso."
t Matteo Bandello, Novella VII. in Book I.
3
A PRINCESS OF THE
Signora Bamilla, your daughter, took for her husband the
valiant Baron, the Lord Marchese de la Tripalda — to this
wedding, I say, the Signora Camilla herself deigned to
invite me, being in Milan, with a most kind and friendly
letter. . . . And to give greater authority to this letter,
there were five lines written by your hand, commanding
me that I should not fail to come, because no excuse of
mine would be accepted. This would have been quite
enough to make me fly and take post with all haste, even
if I had been at that time grievously ill. But behold,
another letter was given to me . . . written by the two
really true magnanimous heroes, your sons, the Signor
Federico and the Signor Pirro, who threatened to deprive
me of all their favour, with other penalties ... if I did
not come at once. Constrained by so many dear and sweet
commands, I put aside all other cares, and hastened to
come to Casalmaggiore.
" What shall I say of the kind reception and most
affectionate and flattering welcome which I received from
you all ? But indeed this is not my first acquaintance
with the charming courtesy, the true friendliness, and
splendid generosity of this most excellent and heroic
house of Gonzaga, which I have known for so long.
When I arrived, I found that already a great company of
noble lords, barons, and distinguished persons had come
to honour this wedding, and they were all most splendidly
lodged according to their rank, with noble hospitality.
The festivities had already commenced, and those who
wished to dance could most readily satisfy their desire, to
the sound of various musical instruments played by most
excellent musicians. There were also a variety of games,
in which those assembled took the greatest delight. Con-
jurors and buffoons were also present, and provided great
4
ITALIAN REFORMATION
amusement by their performances, so that the time passed
most pleasantly. The heat being very great out of doors,
as is usual at this season of the year, I was sitting near
you one day at the hour of noon, when you rose and took
me by the hand, beckoning to the Signor Pirro and the
bride to follow you, and you led us into a hall on the
ground-floor, marvellously cool and pleasant. Many great
lords and ladies followed you, and when all had entered
and were conveniently seated, you chose a moment of
silence, and said : ' I have brought you here, my friends,
into this cool hall, not only on account of the great heat,
but also because of the crowd of so many people, and
I thought it would be more pleasant here. It came into
my mind, and may seem well to you, that, we should
leave the musicians in the other hall, and find here some
pleasing subject of conversation to pass away the hour of
noonday heat. If, therefore, there should happen to be
any of you who have at hand some goo tory, not too
much known, and would kindly relate it, I believe that this
honourable company would gladly stay and listen.'
" Everyone replied that this was a most admirable idea,
and that it ought to be carried out. Signor Pirro declared
that Madama had indeed given most excellent advice,
and he turned towards a Burgundian gentleman, by name
Edmond Orflec, who had long fought in Italy and served
under Signor Pirro, asking him if he would tell the stor)-
of which he had already spoken at Bozzolo. The Bur-
gundian needed no pressing, and at once began to relate
his tale, which filled his hearers with amazement and pity
to such a point that few of the men and none of the ladies
could restrain their tears of sympathy and compassion.
And because the story was somewhat long ... I took
notes of it, and wrote it out more fully when I returned
5
A PRINCESS OF THE
to Milan. ... I wish to dedicate it to your most noble
name, and will place it with my other novelle. ... It
will remain to the world a testimony of my service and
devotion to you and to all your illustrious house. And I
commend myself with all reverence to your good grace,
and pray our Lord God that He will grant you the fulfil-
ment of all your desires. I pray you remain in good
health." *
After this interesting event, we must return to the
Castello of Gazzuolo, where Giulia Gonzaga, not yet five
years old, had already begun her serious education. The
little girls shared the classical teaching of their brothers,
and were taught Latin and Greek, some branches of the
" humanities " and the " art of poetry " by learned tutors,
who never failed to remind them that they had the privi-
lege of reading the poems of Virgil in the very land in
which they were written. They were carefully trained in
the methods of the famous teacher, Vittorino da Feltre,
who had been so successful with their ancestors, and the
cultured Cecilia Gonzaga was held up to them as a lofty
and shining example. One of the most famous professors
who taught the Gonzaga children was Messer Giovanni
Buonavoglia of Mantua, who held the Chair of Eloquence
at Novilana, near Pesaro. It was his boast in later years
that it was he " who led the Signor Luigi Rodomonte to
the Castalian fountain, and taught him that ' art of
poetry ' in which he became so great a proficient that his
verses won praise from the greatest poets of the day."
Ariosto speaks of the young prince as " beloved alike by
Mars and the Muses." f
* Matteo Bandello, Novella VII., Book I.
t " Orlando Furioso," Canto XXXVII., stanza viii.
6
ITALIAN REFORMATION
This eldest and dearest loved brother of Giulia was no
less gifted in body than in mind, and if his tutors found
him an apt and brilliant pupil in his studies, he was still
more distinguished by his strength and stature — his mag-
nificent personal qualities. He was so strong with his
hands that he could break a horseshoe with them or tear
a cord asunder ; with one hand he could raise and throw
an iron ball which other men could not lift, and he had
been seen to leap across the Castle moat, where it was
twenty -four feet wide. There was no horse which he
could not easily tame ; no one could beat him in racing,
in wrestling, or the game of pallone and other sports.
He was always first in the hunting-field, and was in-
vincible in tournaments.
If his sisters could not share these more active pursuits,
they learnt to ride almost as soon as to walk, and theirs
was the delight of hunting in that wild, open country,
or the still dearer joy of hawking by those misty river-
banks where the herons and the wild-fowl had their home.
Nor were more womanly tasks forgotten : the young girls
were taught the pleasing art of the dance ; they became
proficients in music and singing ; their mother, the gentle
Francesca, watched over their lessons in the delicate
arts of needlework and embroidery, while their religious
education was entrusted to the Sisters of the Convent of
Santa Maria, near by.
From all that we hear about her, Giulia Gonzaga seems
to have excelled the other wonderful maidens of the
Renaissance whose fame has reached us. It is said of
her at the time that " Nature had bestowed upon her
the most rare gifts alike of body and soul ; the charm
which shone forth in her words and deeds was accom-
panied by a modesty and grace which drew all hearts to
7
A PRINCESS OF THE
her. Not only did she distinguish herself in her classical
studies, in music and song, but she had such a wonder-
ful talent that she learnt all new things with amazing
rapidity. ..."
The learned Professor, Giovanni Buonavoglia, thus
mentions her in a well-known Latin poem : " . . . But
Giulia far surpasses all her sisters. Her modesty cannot
hide her talents and her charms ; she is ever ready with
witty sayings, yet ever full of courtesy. She can sing the
sweetest melodies ; she is as devoted to learning as a
Minerva, and with the talent of an artist she is also able
to reproduce the many beauties of Nature." Of her
unrivalled beauty we shall have occasion to give full
testimony later.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER II
Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga at Mantua to attend funeral of the
Marchese Francesco — Happy family life at Gazzuolo — Gallant
adventures of Luigi — His visit to England with the Emperor
Charles V. — His poetry — Talent and beauty of the young Giulia
Gonzaga — She is invited to accompany the Marchesa Isabella
d' Este to Rome.
A very charming account is given of the peaceful happy
life of the Gonzaga family in their home at Gazzuolo.
Under the watchful care of Madonna Antonia, the
children's education was carried on with brilliant success
by the most famous teachers of the day, while at the
same time the ardent pursuit of all outdoor sports was
encouraged. Yet in their isolated country life, constant
echoes from the world beyond did not fail to reach
them. Their father Lodovico had outlived his days of
active travel and warfare, of which he had taken his full
share, and had no great taste for Courts or cities. Still,
he was anxious that his sons should play their rightful
part alike in peace and war, and he lost no opportunity
of sending his eldest son on great occasions as his repre-
sentative. Thus when, in April, 1519, there occurred the
death of his kinsman, the Marchese Francesco Gonzaga,
Luigi Rodomonte went in state to Mantua to pay due
respect to the departed prince by attending his funeral,
and at the same time to honour and show sympathy with
his cousin Federico, the new lord of Mantua. There was
9
A PRINCESS OF THE
a great procession from the old Castello in which Luigi
rode with a company of nobles and gentlemen on April 4,
when the young Marchese received the sceptre of office
at the great gate of the Cathedral, and afterwards made a
solemn progress through the city, his steward riding in
front of him with a naked sword held aloft, while the
people shouted "Viva Gonzaga!" to an accompaniment
of drums and trumpets. Meantime, the body of the late
ruler, clad in the garb of a friar, had been carried to the
Church of San Francesco, and a week later was placed on
a raised bier surrounded with lighted torches and hung
with banners, while all the princes of his house assembled
to do honour to the head of their family, and the cere-
monies were concluded the next day by a most eloquent
funeral oration given by Ambrogio Fiandino, Suffragan
Bishop of Mantua.
The next record we have is a letter from Luigi, giving
his father a full account of the splendid tournament held
in Mantua on February 19, 1520, when he greatly distin-
guished himself and carried off high honours for a youth
of barely twenty.
It was in this same year that he had his first taste of
real war, in the service of the League formed by Pope
Leo X. and Charles V., Emperor, to drive the French
from the Duchy of Milan. The following year, when
the Marchese Federico was made Captain-General of the
Papal forces, Luigi received a command under him, and
fought under the Gonzaga banners. He was present at
the recovery of Parma and Piacenza for the Holy See and
also at the taking of Milan for the Emperor.
In this terrible war which raged between the Emperor
and the King of France, in which Italy was the battlefield,
it was most sad and unfortunate that the House of Gon-
ITALIAN REFORMATION
zaga was divided in its allegiance. Long years before,
Luigi's father Lodovico and his brother Federico had
been sent to the Court of Charles VIII. of France to
learn the art of war and the courteous ways of chivalry
in the service of that prince. It was fortunate that later
events and the advice of his wise mother, Madonna
Antonia, induced Lodovico to choose and faithfully
continue in the service of the Emperor Charles V., but
his brothers Federico and Pirro remained on the side of
France — a disaster for them. It was in 1498 that his
mother arranged a suitable wedding for her eldest son
Lodovico with the eighteen-year-old Francesca di Fieschi,
of a noble family of Genoa. After their marriage the
parents of Giulia chiefly resided at the Castello of Gaz-
zuolo until, in 1521, there was a fresh division of property
amongst the family, and Lodovico took the title of Mar-
chese of Sabbioneta, while Gazzuolo fell to the share of
his brother Pirro, who married Donna Emilia Bentivoglio
of Bologna.
Giulia was nine years old when they moved to Sab-
bioneta, and they all became very fond of this country
home, where they had more freedom to enjoy their hunt-
ing and hawking and other sports and pastimes. The
sunniest and pleasantest rooms in the old Castello were
given up to Madonna Antonia, who was always the
beloved queen and ruler in everything. Nothing was
ever done without her advice, for she was as wise in
counsel as she was charming in conversation. She was
very fond of literature and especially delighted in the old
French romances. She often borrowed books from the
Marchesa Isabella d' Este, and it was a great delight
to the young girls to read aloud to their grandmother
those charming stories of olden days, " The Story of
11
A PRINCESS OF THE
Godefroi de Bouillon," and the fine romance of " King
Arthur and the gallant Knights of the Round Table."
But her taste was not confined to such tales, for she was
a devoted admirer of the poet Dante, and the " Epistles
of St. Jerome " was also a favourite book of hers. Her
grandson Luigi shared all these tastes when he was at
home, and he, as well as his father, began collecting books
very early, so that in time they had quite a fine library.
But Luigi was not much at Sabbioneta to enjoy it, for
soon after he went there his father thought it well to send
him to the Court of the Emperor Charles V. in Spain.
His gallant adventurous spirit took the greatest delight
in this opportunity of visiting so noble a prince and so
distinguished a company as he found assembled at the
city of Valladolid.
Wherever he went, Rodomonte was always so remark-
able for his marvellous strength of body and unrivalled
skill in all games and sports, which have been celebrated
alike in poetry and in prose, that it is not easy to write
down the story of his exploits. The poet Muzio was one
of those who sang the praise " of him who could cast the
great stone and raise the mighty bar, who could lightly
spring beyond the farthest limits of others, whose wrestling
none could resist, and in all such adventures there was no
man who could hope to rival him. He rose above others,
as the lofty tree above the humble shrubs." Also Curzio
Gonzaga, in " II Fido Amante." But so high was the
favour of this valiant youth with the Emperor that we
can scarcely wonder it should arouse envy and jealousy
among the courtiers. They found a gigantic Moor, of
monstrous build and strength, a noted wrestler who was
the champion everywhere he appeared ; and he was per-
suaded to challenge the Italian noble whom no one at the
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Court could beat. I have before me at this moment a
most interesting letter from a noble gentleman, who
told the lord of Sabbioneta the whole adventure which
followed :
" Ill mo Signov eccell m ° Lodovico di Sablonete.
" It has seemed to me well that you should learn the
whole truth in this matter to the greater glory of your
most gallant and valiant young son. When he received
the challenge of this gigantic and terrible Negro, we, his
friends, considering his immature youth and smaller
experience, would have had Signor Luigi refuse the
contest, but he eagerly and gladly accepted it. At the
time and place appointed, there was a great company
assembled to behold this wrestling. On the struggle itself
I will not dwell, save to tell you that with the most
marvellous skill and courage our young champion seized
his mighty foe, and seven times, one after the other, cast
him down on to the breast of his mother earth. You may
picture the amazement of the spectators, who, like the
Negro himself, made quite sure that this David could
never stand up against such a Goliath. But at the time,
your son Luigi was compared to Hercules wrestling with
the giant Antaeus, and with a like result, wherein we do
see the righteous judgment of God * most clearly displayed
in the victory of his most Christian champion. His
fame has not only spread through our country of Spain,
but has been noised abroad to foreign parts, and the
English ambassadors have written to tell their most
famous King, Henry VIII., of all they have seen and
heard about this young hero. This is the more interest -
* Thus described by Dante, " De Monarchia," Book II., viii.
78-83, x. 87-89.
13
A PRINCESS OF THE
ing, as we hear that the Emperor, who is soon to pay a
visit to the English Court, has promised to bring this
brave Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga in his train. . . ."
We have a very full account later from Luigi himself of
this State visit to England with the young Emperor, who
was so near his own age, having been born at Ghent on
February 24, 1500. They landed at Dover on May 6,
and were received with great magnificence in London,
and with splendid feasts and entertainments at Greenwich
and also at Windsor Castle. The Emperor was warmly
welcomed by Queen Katharine, his aunt, the daughter of
the great Queen of Spain, Isabel. He had much serious
business with King Henry VIII., and was able to borrow
from him a large sum of money to carry on the war with
France, on condition of signing an agreement to marry
his young cousin, the Princess Mary of England. But
these affairs of State did not interfere with splendid
tournaments and hunting in the forests of Windsor, and
in both these pursuits Luigi appears to have won the
highest honours from both sovereigns. There was one
incident of his single-handed contest with a wild boar
which was thought worthy of an eclogue by the poet
Muzio.
Meantime a rebellion in Spain broke out against the
Emperor, who returned thither with the young Gonzaga,
landing at Santandar on July 6. On this occasion Rodo-
monte wrote a sonnet to encourage his lord, who received
his poetical tribute with much friendliness :
" L' anima altera dal celeste Impero
D' imbraccia al suo Fattor sincera, e pura
Volse giu gli oochi a la sua dolce cura,
Da cui giammai non parte il bel pensiero.
14
ITALIAN REFORMATION
E disse : ' o figliuol mio, figliuol mio vero
De le mie glorie nato, e di natura
Chiaro splendor, questa vita aspra, e dura
Non ti travii dal tuo dritto sentiero.
Svegliati, e mira il grave peso, e tante
Fatiche, ov'io morendo ardito entrasti
Qual Ercol sotto il faticoso Atlante.
Frena il tumulto Ibero, e i gran contrasti
Con quella lingua, e con quel bel sembiante,
Con cui giunto a 1' ardir lode acquistasti.' "*
Sonnet I.
The rebellion in Spain was very soon put down, and
the young sovereign was received with much honour and
reverence by most of his subjects. An unfortunate inci-
dent occurred soon after this, when Pirro, now Lord of
Gazzuolo, followed the example of his brother Federico
Gonzaga of Bozzolo, and took arms on the side of France.
There may have been excuses for him — although that
particular branch of the family was always loyal to the
Emperor — for the French nobles and officers they had
occasion to meet were so much more courteous and
pleasant to live with than the proud Spaniards or the
rough Germans, whom the elder Pirro always declared
were " insupportable." But this revolt was a most serious
* " The lofty soul of the Emperor (Maximilian, who died 1519),
sincere and pure from the heavenly embrace of his Creator, turns to
look down upon his dear charge (his grandson Charles) whom his
loving thoughts never leave. And he says : ' Oh, my son, my true
son, born to my glory and with a nature of such clear splendour, this
life so rough and hard will not draw you away from the straight road !
Awake and consider the heavy burden and the many labours which
I, dying, cared to undertake, like Hercules under the weight of
Atlas. Bridle tumultuous Spain and the great rebellion with the
same language and the same splendid aspect with which I dared to
arrive, and acquire my fame.' "
15
A PRINCESS OF THE
matter for him, as, on hearing of it, the young Emperor
declared that the estates of both Federico and Pirro were
confiscated ; and by a deed, signed January 13 at Valla-
dolid, he bestowed upon their nephew Luigi, as a reward
for his good service, the lands of his uncle Pirro. The
property of Federico of Bozzolo was given to the young
Marchese of Mantua, who had at once claimed them as
former fiefs of his branch of the family. All this added
much to the dissensions amongst the Gonzaga ; but Luigi
was far too generous to profit by this gift, and his only
thought was to hold the lands on behalf of his young
cousins. His father quite agreed with this intention, and
his mother wrote Luigi a most charming letter in praise
of his generous feeling.
Some little time before Lodovico had received a visit at
Casalmaggiore from Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan,
and he with his large company, were entertained with the
greatest kindness and hospitality. For this Sforza made
a very base return, as he resolved to get possession of
this property of Lodovico's, and in order to do so left a
number of his soldiers behind under pretext of protecting
the inhabitants from the French. In this way he gradually
became complete master of it all, notwithstanding the
complaints and solemn protest of Lodovico Gonzaga. A
much pleasanter visitor arrived about the same time, who
stayed first at Casalmaggiore and then at Sabbioneta.
This was the poet Giovanni Buonavoglia, who was the
most interesting and delightful guest, and wrote a beautiful
Latin poem, in which he described in glowing words the
almost pastoral life at Sabbioneta, and, above all, the
unapproachable charm of Madonna Antonia del Balzo :
" Born of a race of kings, her majestic rule was one of
wisdom and piety; beloved of Minerva and the Muses,
16
FAMILY OF LODOVICO GONZAGA— Marchese of Mantua.
Ancestor of Giulia.
Andrea Mantegni. Mantua.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
her beauty and her virtues were inherited by her children
and descendants. A mother of heroes, amongst whom
he mentions her grandson Luigi — another Achilles — as
wearing at the same time the wreath of Apollo. The
maidens of her household were radiant stars, and to hear
them sing was like listening to the heavenly choir."
We have now reached the eventful winter of the year
1524, when Giulia had attained the age of > twelve years.
Her family had always remained on friendly terms of
intimacy with the ruling Gonzagas of Mantua, as we have
already seen on various occasions. As early as 1520 Giulia
had written a letter to the young Marchese Federico,
sending him a new piece of music. As this is the first of
her many letters preserved to us, I will give it in full :
" Casalmaggiore,
" October 23, 1520.*
" Il mo et Ex mo Signor. . . . Hearing that Your Excel-
lency has great pleasure and takes much delight in musical
matters, and especially in new things, desiring, therefore,
to please you, I send enclosed a mottetto which has
been composed by Mons. Sebastiano Testa, servant of
the most Reverend Monsignore de Mondovi . . . this
mottetto not being yet in the hands of anyone. . . ."
In the following spring this little girl of barely nine
years old, sent another piece of new music to the Marchese
of Mantua, the first one having been graciously received.
The widowed Marchesa, Isabella d' Este, had found her
position much changed since her husband's death, and
circumstances had now given a fresh impulse to her love
of travelling. Her second son Ercole, to whom she was
* Arch. Gonz. Mantova. See Appendix for original, note 1.
17 2
A PRINCESS OF THE
greatly devoted, had already been made a Bishop at the
age of fifteen; but his mother's ambition was not yet
satisfied, and she had set her heart upon obtaining a
Cardinal's hat for him. Her efforts had been in vain
during the last months of Leo X.'s life, but now she
hoped to have more success with the new Pope,
Clement VII. She therefore resolved to make another
journey to Rome, where the Duke of Urbino had offered
her the use of his palace. Isabella was well aware that
on her popularity depended her great success in obtaining
all that she wished ; and in order to attain this she had
a way of surrounding herself with " a glittering train of
beautiful women," * amongst whom a " Delia " or a
" Brognina " would at times become notorious. We may
be sure that the astute Marchesa had long had her eye
upon the young cousin, who was already spoken of for her
surpassing charm and loveliness.
Thus it came about that at Christmas, 1524, there
arrived at Sabbioneta an amazing letter from Isabella
d' Este — nothing less than a warm invitation that Giulia
should join her in a visit to the Eternal City. We may
imagine the excitement in that quiet household, and the
solemn family conference which took place to decide this
important question. What might not be the result of this
journey for their beautiful child, who might thus achieve
some splendid marriage, for the Marchesa was well known
to be a great matchmaker ? The anxious fears of the
girl's gentle mother would be soothed by the news that
another cousin, the charming Camilla Gonzaga of Novel-
laria,+ would also be of the party ; while Madonna Antonia,
* Addington Symonds.
t Her praises were sung by Molza and Bembo. She married later
Count Alessandro di Porto, of Vicenza.
18
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with the wise experience of long years, would point out
that every bird must leave the nest in time, and that it is
the nature of youth to long for change and movement.
Giulia could be trusted to do justice to her admirable
home-training.
As for the young girl herself, eager and thoughtful
beyond her twelve years, to her the prospect must have
seemed to throw open the gates of stirring life and adven-
ture. It would be hard to say farewell to her loved ones,
and she would long be haunted by the familiar memories
of her home — the broad expanse of flowery meadows, the
river softly rippling by under the shadow of bending
willows and tall whispering poplars, while far away on
the distant hillside, towns and castles glimmered out of
the blue mist. But she would cross those mysterious
mountains, she would see what lay beyond ; and there
was joy passing words in the thought that she would
travel to Rome itself — that marvellous city of her
dreams !
In truth, Giulia was somewhat lonely at this time, for
her three brothers had gone out into the world, and one
by one her sisters had met with their appointed fate.
" Chi e nata bella e nata maritabile." First, Paola had be-
come the bride of Signor Galeazzo Sanvitale, Lord of
Fontanellato ; then came the turn of Ippolita, who married
Galeotto Pico, Conte della Mirandola; and Leonora the
Conte Girolamo Martinengo. Marriage had snatched
them away from her with inevitable devouring force, akin
to death, or so it seemed, for the home where they were
so happy and beloved henceforth knew them no more.
Two other sisters, Caterina and Elisabetta, became nuns
in the Convent of San Vicenzo, in Mantua ; but the
cloister had no attractions for Giulia.
19
A PRINCESS OF THE
When at length the die was cast, and the eager child
rode forth to Mantua with her father and mother, she
prepared to take leave of them with gallant courage and
wild expectation, little dreaming what would befall her
ere she saw them again.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER III
The journey to Rome : By the River Po to Ferrara, where they are
received by Duke Alfonso I. d' Este — Onwards to Ravenna and
Rimini — Warm welcome at Pesaro and Urbino by the Duchess-
Dowager Elisabetta Gonzaga and the Duchess Leonora, daughter
of Isabella d' Este — On the journey beyond Loreto they receive
news of the Battle of Pavia (February 24, 1525) — Arrival in
Rome — Interview with Pope Clement VII. — Life in the Colonna
Palace.
Not until the darkest months of winter had passed away,
and the coming of February heralded the approach of
more hopeful weather, did Isabella d' Este, the widowed
Marchesa of Mantua, set forth on her journey to Rome.
It is difficult for us to realize at the present day what
a serious matter travelling was to the ladies of the
Renaissance. We cannot wonder that riding was looked
upon as an indispensable accomplishment, for a long land
journey was made entirely on horseback, day after day, in
all weather, except in the case of those who, from age or
infirmity, were compelled to use horse-litters. On this
occasion, however, as Isabella was bent upon paying a
visit to her old home at Ferrara by the way, the River Po
was available for crossing the plains of Lombardy. The
Marchesa had sent on most of her attendants a month
before with the heavy baggage, and she took only her
ladies and her secretary, Giovanni Francesco Tridapale,
with a suite sufficient for protection and comfort.
A PRINCESS OF THE
To Giulia Gonzaga, in the heyday of youth and health,
it was a glorious adventure thus to set forth with that gay
company through a strange and, to her, untravelled land,
towards that ancient city of renown, the home of art and
learning, the central shrine of Christendom. Her child-
hood seemed to have been left behind, for this was her
first experience of being treated by her companions as
a full-blown lady, her words listened to with respect and
attention, and every wish forestalled by the gallant
gentlemen who formed the suite of the Marchesa. The
great lady was kindness itself, called Giulia her dear
young cousin, and would constantly invite the child to
sit by her side. The young girl made great friends at
once with Camilla Gonzaga, who was a few years older
and had much more experience of Courts, so that she was
able to give many useful hints.
The journey as far as Ferrara was by river, in a stately
bucentaur, and they were fortunate in having a prosperous
voyage. Here, in the ancient city, a welcome awaited
them of grave and stately hospitality, for Duke Alfonso
was devoted to his sister Isabella ; but there were no
festivities or amusements of any kind, for the Court was
in mourning, and life had been very quiet and dull since
the death of the Duchess Lucrezia,* to whom her husband
was greatly devoted. Still, there were many interesting
things to see for a country maiden like Giulia : the great
Castello itself, a splendid medieval fortress, with its
massive walls and great corner towers ; the beautiful
Duomo, with San Giorgio and the dragon over the portal,
and the warrior-saint in his shining armour seen every-
where — the patron of the Ferrara Princes.
However, after three days, they were glad to continue
* Lucrezia Borgia, who died in 1519.
22
ITALIAN REFORMATION
their journey, and the broad river was again their high-
way until they came to the great swampy reaches which
form the delta of the Po. Then they had to make their
way across the shallow lagoons in rude flat-bottomed
boats, such as have been used there from time immemorial.
Beyond this, they were able to ride along the narrow strip
of sandy ground which encloses the shallow, swampy
reaches from the sea, until before them rose the wonder-
ful Pineta, the dark, silent pine-forest, through which they
at length reached that old city of classic fame, and entered
Ravenna by the great Porta Serrata. Here they made
a brief stay in that dream city, haunted by legends of the
past. Those gorgeous basilicas, with their rich mosaics ;
those processions of splendid princes and Magi and white-
robed virgins would ever dwell in Giulia's mind, for they so
vividly recalled to her the teaching of Messer Buonavoglia.
He was an ardent worshipper of Dante, and he ever held
that it was here, in these solemn pictures, that Dante had
drawn his inspiration for the great company of the re-
deemed, moving in rhythmical circles through the central
Rose of Paradise.
From Ravenna they set forth on horseback, and for
some miles the way led them through the great Pineta,
with its shady groves and mysterious silence, from whence
they rode forth along the sandy dunes and the misty
shore, where the sea-birds made their home, and where
they clustered round in flocks, wailing their sad, melan-
choly cry. Passing through Cervia, they reached Rimini
as the dusk was closing in, and were hospitably received
in the Palace of the Malatesti, who were kindred of theirs
through an ancestress, Paola,* as the Marchesa Isabella
* Paola Malatesta, who died in 1453, married Gianfrancesco II.,
first Marchese of Mantua, 1395-1^]^.
23
A PRINCESS OF THE
reminded Camilla and Giulia. But another and a deeper
interest was aroused ; for was not this the scene of that
most tragic story of the great poet ? — the drama of Paolo
and Francesco, who loved too well where love should
have had no place, and to whom Dante sternly metes out
unswerving justice, and places them within the dread
portals where all hope is left behind, but, with a touch of
pitiful mercy, leaves them together.
The next morning they set out early on the way to
Pesaro ; first a beautiful ride along the coast, then crossing
a chain of hills which descend towards the sea; while
again it was late in the day when they reached their
destination. A splendid welcome awaited them. They
were met some distance outside the gates of the city by a
gallant company of young knights, with Signor Guidobaldo,
a charming boy of eleven, at their head ; he had ridden
forward to receive with perfect courtesy his grandmother,
the Marchesa Isabella. Her daughter Leonora, Duchess
of Urbino, was awaiting her at the entrance of the palace
in the great piazza, and with her was the Dowager-Duchess
Elisabetta ; but the Duke Francesco Maria was away on
military service, as General of the Venetian Army. The
whole party were most sumptuously entertained ; but the
first evening they saw nothing of the two Duchesses, as
they were so fully engaged in the joy of pouring out their
hearts to the Marchesa. The great reception-rooms of the
ancient palace were most beautifully painted with coloured
friezes, while the chimney-pieces and columns were marvels
of sculpture.* There was also a great library, full of rare
books. On the second evening after their arrival they had
a delightful pastoral play, with very good music, and
afterwards finished the evening with dancing.
* By Ambrosio Baroccio and Francesco di Giorgio, of Siena.
24
ITALIAN REFORMATION
It was with great regret that the company turned away
from these pleasures ; but Madonna Isabella could not
be persuaded to stay any longer, and on February 19
they continued the journey onwards towards Loreto, the
pilgrim shrine, passing Sinigaglia on their way. The
whole of this adventure — her first taste of the joys of
travel — would live in Giulia's memory as an ever-changing
vision of delight. She had long heard of Loreto, and it
was with intense interest that she saw rising before her
the picturesque hill-town, famed for so marvellous a
legend. As they entered the great church and made their
way towards the lowly " Casa Santa" — that house of Our
Lady at Nazareth said to have been so miraculously trans-
ported hither — it was strange beyond all words to think of
the untold hosts of the sick and sorrowful who had trodden
that well-worn path, to pray for help or pay their vows.
After Loreto the journey continued across the moun-
tains, and they travelled through Foligno, Spoleto, Terni,
and Narni, where they crossed the Bridge of Augustus on
the Flaminian Way. One thing would stand out in vivid
relief : it was in this part of their travels that a tremendous
piece of news fell upon them like a thunder-clap. An
exhausted messenger, who had ridden night and day,
brought word that a great battle had been fought before
Pavia on February 24, with terrible loss of life. The
Imperial troops had won a most decisive victory, while
the defeat of the French King, Francois I., was so com-
plete that he himself had been taken prisoner. It was
a fearful moment of anxiety, for they all had friends in
one army or the other. Giulia knew that Luigi was in
Spain with the Emperor, but her uncles, Pirro and
Federico Gonzaga, were fighting on the French side, and
the report received was that they were taken prisoners.
25
A PRINCESS OF THE
Madonna Isabella had many friends on that battlefield,
and was only eager to hasten onwards to Rome and obtain
more certain news. Every mile was now bringing them
nearer to that wonderful and famous city, but such was
their impatience that the longed-for goal of their desire
seemed to flee before them.
" When you gain the summit of yonder hill you will
discover Rome," they were told. Eagerly they climbed
the steep ascent, unconscious of fatigue, but no city
appeared. "You will see it from the next," was the cry;
and so on from height to height. But at length they per-
ceived a cluster of hills with green pastures on their
summits, enclosed by thickets and groves of ilex, while
here and there a white building caught a gleam from the
setting sun. Then domes and towers began to rise from
the mist of the valley, and the Marchesa pointed out the
magnificent roofs of the Vatican, with San Pietro rising
proudly above them. Every moment the glorious scene
expanded before them, until, winding round the last hill,
all Rome was suddenly outspread before their longing
gaze. With what a feeling of awe would they ride down
the hill, cross the bridge over the Tiber, pass through the
long avenue, enter the city of the Caesars by the Porto del
Popolo, and behold, as in a vision, the domes, the churches,
the obelisk, the long perspective of streets and palaces
beyond, all aglow in the ruddy gold of a sunset sky !
In the grand palace of the Duke of Urbino, at the right
of the Corso in Rome, everything was prepared for her
comfort, as the Marchesa Isabella had sent her servants
a month in advance with all the heavy baggage. It was
close to the very ancient and sacred Church of " Santa
Maria, in Via Lata," which is said to have been built over
the very house in which St. Paul lodged when he was in
26
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Rome. In this church is a little chapel, where legend
says that St. Luke wrote his Gospel and painted the
effigy of the Mother of God.
It was the first day of March when they reached Rome,
and found all the Papal Court, as well as His Holiness
Pope Clement VII. himself, in a state of the greatest
excitement at the news of the Imperial victory at Pavia.
The Marchesa had to mourn the death of many friends,
but at the same time she was very proud of the important
part which her nephew, Charles, Duke of Bourbon, had
taken on the side of the Emperor. He was the son of
her sister-in-law, Chiara Gonzaga, who married the gallant
Duke of Montpensier. The Pope had been so strongly
on the side of the French that he felt alarmed at this
great success of the Imperial party, and possibly this
made him more anxious to secure the support of Mantua,
for he showed himself most friendly to Madonna Isabella,
who received a warm welcome from him, although recent
events had left him in a state of painful excitement.
It was a wonderful experience for the young girl to find
herself indeed in Rome, the city of her dreams. How
wonderful must have been the strange, mysterious glamour
of that ancient city to an eager child who had been taught
to look upon it, not only as the Sacred Throne of Holy
Church, but as the true home and centre of classic story !
She could stray back into the past, and feel that the
heroes of old were rising in stately procession before her,
and, above all, in the hours of solitude and silence would
the magic vision be vouchsafed to her. As she looked
down from a high window in that great palace upon the
Via Lata* below, flooded with silvery moonlight, she could
imagine that Csesar was on his way from the Forum
* Now called the Via del Corso.
27
A PRINCESS OF THE
yonder, with all the gorgeous pageant of an Imperial
triumph over the barbarians. And surely that white-robed
company, passing onward with noiseless steps, could be
none other than the solemn procession of the Vestal
Virgins on their way to the Temple of Vesta, whose
Abbess — the Virgo Vestalis Maxima — had but this moment
saved from death the trembling criminal she met, with a
single word and uplifted hand! But I must not dwell
longer upon classic Rome the beloved, and her deathless
fame, but will go back to the story of Giulia, whose
unspoken enthusiasm would be little shared, for the
Marchesa, her ladies-in-waiting, and all the friends she
met, seemed to be entirely engrossed in the present.
The recent Battle of Pavia, with the crushing defeat
and captivity of the French King and the triumph of the
Emperor, was the one topic of conversation. Madonna
Isabella more especially had to mourn the loss of many
friends, stricken down by the scythe of Death on that
fatal field. A kinsman of Gonzaga descent, Charles, Duke
of Bourbon, was in high command of the Imperial troops,
and won the highest honours of the day. The Spanish
soldiers sang his praises in one of their camp ballads :
" Calla, calla, Julio Cesar, Annibal y Scipion
Viva la fama di Borbon !"
A cousin of Giulia, Federico da Bozzolo, who had been
taken prisoner, bribed his guards and made his escape,
and there was a rumour that his uncle Pirro had done the
same. Lodovico Gonzaga wrote from Sabbioneta to his
son Luigi, who had missed this chance of war and dis-
tinction, being at the Court of Spain, desiring him to
congratulate the Emperor on the success of his arms, and
to pray for a continuance of his favour.
28
ITALIAN REFORMATION
As soon as the Marchesa was settled in Rome, she lost
no time in advancing the cause for which she had travelled
so far. In reply to her earnest request, His Holiness
Pope Clement invited her to a private audience in his
palace at the Vatican. This was arranged for March 9,
a week after her arrival, and such prompt courtesy gave
her every reason to hope for success.
When the eventful day arrived, Isabella d' Este set forth
with as much state as possible in her fine chariot — a
novelty in Rome — and drove up the Via Lata, through
the crowded streets westward, and across the Tiber,
leaving the sombre mass of Sant' Angelo to the right,
until the magnificent basilica of San Pietro rose in majesty
before her, and she reached the palace of the Vatican.
Here she alighted before the colonnade, and was ushered
through long corridors and up more than one splendid
staircase, until she finally arrived in the private audience-
chamber and the presence of His Holiness.
The Marchesa knelt before the successor of San Pietro,
and kissed his signet-ring ; then, as she raised her eyes to
the august being before her, she saw a handsome man of
middle age, with a fine intellectual countenance and hair
slightly tinged with grey. The only doubtful feature was
the mouth, which lacked firmness and decision, and there
was a curious shifty look about the dark eyes. A most
characteristic conversation was carried on between the
Pope Clement VII. and the Marchesa of Mantua, both
experienced and astute in diplomacy. He was most
gracious and full of tact, asked the right questions con-
cerning her family, inquired about the incidents of her
journey from Lombardy, and all the time managed to
express his immense interest in his visitor personally.
Madonna Isabella kept up the ball of conversation with
29
A PRINCESS OF THE
admirable skill, and at last found an opening to convey
delicately to His Holiness the object of her journey. He
knew her son Ercole, who had been a Bishop since he
was fifteen, and had been so popular at Bologna as
coadjutor to his uncle, Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga.
Medici and Gonzaga had ever been such warm friends,
would not His Holiness take this early opportunity after
his election to the Chair of San Pietro,* to bestow a
Cardinal's hat upon her most pious and distinguished son
Ercole ?t There was a pause which with less talented
speakers might have been awkward. But the Pope had
so charming a way of assenting to everything up to a
certain point, and then gently changing the subject, that his
practical refusal was more graceful than a mere consent
of most men. He was profuse in his expressions of
delight in the coming of the Marchesa and her ladies
to Rome; he graciously offered boundless hospitality;
Madonna Isabella must consider herself and her house-
hold to be his guests. He would send ample supplies of
all the necessaries of life and most of the luxuries — meat
and game and fish, corn and milk and fruit, from his own
farms, and the choicest wines from his cellar. What
could the Marchesa do but express her profound gratitude
for the Pope's bounty, and inwardly resolve to bide her
time, for in the end her persistence was certain to meet
with its reward ?
The indomitable Marchesa was not at all disappointed
with the result of the interview, for she felt sure of
ultimately obtaining her desire. Madonna Isabella cer-
tainly was the most wonderful person to gain everything
she set her heart upon, as she soon had another oppor-
* Clement VII. was elected Pope in October, 1523.
t Ercole Gonzaga was now eighteen.
3°
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tunity of proving. She had a quiet time during Lent,
and attended all the services during Holy Week, when
she and her ladies had plenary indulgence bestowed upon
them all, as it happened to be the year of Jubilee,
although there were few visitors to the Eternal City on
account of the war raging in Italy. But immediately
after Easter, everybody of note came to call upon the
Marchesa, who had been so extremely popular on the
occasion of her first visit to Rome in 1514, when the
pleasure-loving Pope Leo did the honours for her in the
most splendid style, as she was never weary of telling her
companions. Of course there were changes after eleven
years, and many of her friends were no longer there, but
Cardinals and great nobles all vied with each other
in providing for her the most delightful entertainments.
On May Day, for instance, she went to a magnificent
banquet at the great palace of Cardinal Pompeo Colonna,
where she had the honour of meeting His Holiness, who
attended Mass at the Church of the SS. Apostoli close by.
In the afternoon the company was much amused at seeing
the May-Day revels and sports held within the sacred
precincts, and they had little time to notice the beautiful
view from the lovely gardens which are high up on the
Quirinal Hill. Madonna Isabella was most enthusiastic
in their praise, and added with a sigh : " Ah, my Lord
Cardinal, had I the good fortune to dwell in this Para-
dise, nothing should tear me away from Rome before the
end of the summer !"
" Madonna, you have only to speak the word, and my
palace with its gardens is entirely at your disposal," was
the urbane prelate's courteous reply. " It was built in
the days of boundless hospitality, and is far too enormous
for my humble needs. You will be doing me a true
3 1
A PRINCESS OF THE
service if you will deign to take up your abode here."
We may imagine the Marchesa's air of startled surprise,
followed by expressions of the most profuse gratitude for
the princely offer which she was so perfectly ready to
accept. She was delighted to move from the somewhat
noisy Via Lata to the magnificent palace, which had once
been the dwelling of the Popes, and was almost as
spacious as the Vatican, with its great courts and endless
succession of halls and chambers, one more stately than
the other. But the gardens were the crowning joy of all
to Giulia Gonzaga, for was there ever anything to equal
the loveliness of the grounds behind the Colonna palace ?
Through the long years surely that fair scene would rise
in beauty before the young girl. She would see the
golden sunlight pouring down upon classic temples,
forsaken altars, and broken columns, through shadowed
paths and dark groves of ilex and cypress ; she would
tread again the stately walks with lichen-covered statues
and rare antique vases on either side, while here and
there an empty carved sarcophagus lies half hidden by
a tangle of myrtle and climbing roses. The winding path
leads to some sunny yard set forth with lemon jars, and
stone pots of carnations, and in the centre a sparkling
fountain guarded by Neptune and his trident, surrounded
by attendant mermaids and Cupids riding on dolphins.
Beyond is a fair terrace shadowed by majestic stone
pines, where stands a pillared loggia, and from the balus-
trade of this wonderful Belvedere, there lies outspread a
glorious view indeed. Through the shimmering mist, the
hillocks and dells of the Roman Campagna stretch out
until they seem to reach the pale blue distant slopes of
the Alban and Sabine hills.
It was in the midst of these enchanting scenes that
32
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Giulia was destined to spend some of the happiest hours
of her life ; for here it was that, during her first summer
in Rome, Madonna Isabella received all the most brilliant
and learned of her friends — poets, philosophers, artists,
Cardinals, and Princes. They came to make merry in
their hours of leisure, in gala mood and gala dress : they
were splendid in scarlet, silk, and ermine ; in satin and
brocade ; in plumed hats and jewelled ornaments and
priceless lace which far outshone even the rich costumes
of the Marchesa and her ladies.
Apologia. — A t this point of the history of Giulia, I must
ask the indulgence of all the serious students of scientific history,
if I pass for a time into the realms of " Historical Romance,"
in my earnest endeavour to recreate the atmosphere of this most
interesting period of the Renaissance. May I be forgiven for
devoting all my historical and philosophical study to the task
of realizing and reproducing the actual life and surroundings
of the young girl in that eventful year of her stay in Rome.
Under the semblance of her diary, I would seek to call up a
living picture of those bygone dwellers in the Colonna Palace,
with their pageantry and their prejudices, their outlook upon
life, their thoughts and their aspirations.
33
A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER IV
Pages from the Day-Book of Giulia Gonzaga : Her life in Rome, at
the Colonna Palace, June, 1525 — Literary gatherings of dis-
tinguished men : the Bishops Chiericati, Sadoleto, and others ;
Pietro Bembo, Paolo Giovio, the poet Molza, etc. — Discussions
on many subjects — Visit to the Salviati — Maria, wife of Giovanni
delle Bande Nere — Luigi Rodomonte is enthusiastic about
Ariosto, and tells the story of the " Orlando Furioso " — Other
events in that winter of 1525-26.
Day-Book of Giulia Gonzaga.
At the Colonna Palace in Rome,
This seventh day of June, 1525.
In this new and wonderful life of mine, I think that the
least I can do is to set down, day by day, that which most
delights me, of exciting news, of learned discussion in
poetry, or art, or more serious philosophy. Thus I would
keep a record of this marvellous experience for the sake of
my dear ones at home in our quiet Sabbioneta — above all,
in the hope that it will rejoice the heart of my well-
beloved Madonna Antonia.
In the shady groves of these once famous gardens of
Caesar, I could almost have imagined to-day that, after a
sleep of a thousand years, the spirits of Lucullus and
Sallust, and other classic spirits of the past, had returned
to their ancient haunts. For in very truth they seemed
to live again in the illustrious guests who have come here
34
ITALIAN REFORMATION
together at the bidding of the Most Excellent Madonna
Isabella, Marchesa of Mantua.
With such a galaxy of talent as I have this day seen, I
scarcely know where to begin my record. But honour to
whom honour is due : I will give first place to the Church.
There was present Monsignor Chiericati, Bishop and
Nuncio, high in the favour of His Holiness, a man of fine
presence and sonorous voice. Messer Paolo Giovio says
of him, that " he is the sweetest of all his friends." It
was most interesting to hear him pour out his pious
anxiety about the teaching of that arch-heretic Luther,
" whose doctrine has so many roots in the earth already
that a thousand persons could not pull them up." He
preaches that the Sacrament of the Altar is not to be
worshipped, but only celebrated in memory of Christ.
Another dignitary of the Church was warmly welcomed
by the Marchesa, Monsignor Jacopo Sadoleto, Bishop of
Carpentras, whose post as Papal Secretary keeps him in
Rome, to his great content. He was full of wise and
witty talk, and, I am told, is also a poet ; but it seems to
me that everyone of any culture writes poetry more or
less. Monsignor is a great friend of the Colonna family
and a devoted admirer of that accomplished lady, Madonna
Vittoria Colonna, who married the Marchese di Pescara,
a favourite General of the Emperor, and about whom I
have often heard from my brother Luigi. Another friend
of his was here to-day, Signor Domenico Venier, the
Venetian Ambassador, who, hearing my name, asked to
be presented to me, and was most kind in his enthusiasm
for the splendid valour of my dear brother.
Monsignor Tommaso Inghirami, the librarian of the
Vatican, a learned scholar, chanced to sit by my side, and
he told me much concerning the marvellous antiquities
35
A PRINCESS OF THE
recently discovered, and also promised to show me the
treasure of books and manuscripts under his care. These
were some of the more serious and important members of
our company, but there were others who brought exciting
news, or charmed us with their sparkling wit and brilliant
talk until the echoes rang with our merry laughter. . . .
First I must set down the Venetian lord, Monsignor Pietro
Bembo, who has written such lively dialogues, and whose
talk is as charming as his book. He was long a faithful
and devoted cavalier at Asola, where Caterina Cornara,
late Queen of Cyprus, held her mimic Court, and was
strangely happy in her dream of greatness, after the sub-
stance had departed.* In her honour, Monsignor Pietro
Bembo has named his vivid sketches the " Asolani."
Last, but not least, I must tell of Messer Paolo Giovio,
a great friend of Madonna Isabella, and the very life of
our company. I wish that I could remember the half of
his witty sayings. To-day the Marchesa asked him to
suggest a new motto for her, as she loves to have some
striking and appropriate words in her rooms and on her
ornaments, even sometimes embroidered on her gowns.
After a little thought, Messer Paolo was ready with :
" Sufficit unum in tenebris."
This was greatly applauded after he had most courteously
explained the meaning of it to the uninitiated. When the
great candelabra with many branches is used in the solemn
services of Holy Week, one candle after another is rever-
ently extinguished, until at length only one solitary light
is left burning. This signifies " Faith shining forth in the
surrounding darkness." In the discussion which followed,
, * Caterina Cornara died at Asola, July 10, 1510. See " Ladies of
Italian Renaissance," Christopher Hare. (Harper and Brothers.)
36
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Monsignor Inghirami suggested that the motto recalled
that line qf Virgil, " Unum pro multis."
The art of Apollo was represented for us by the poet
Molza, who had recently come to Rome from Bologna,
bringing letters to Madonna Isabella from her son Ercole,
the budding Cardinal* He had written : " Knowing, dear
mother, how you love the company of learned men, I ask
you for my sake to receive Molza most kindly, and I am
sure that he will soon make you and all your ladies love
him for his own sake." The poet was persuaded to read
us a new sonnet of his own, and with charming grace and
courtesy to me, the youngest of the party, he chose some
lines in which the gallant audacity of my brother Luigi in
the chase was celebrated under the name of Alceo :
" Altro non fu, che de 1' unghiute branche
Non temesse dell' Orso, e che agli assalti
Del setoso Cinghiar non desse loco.
Ovunque Alceo volgeasi era sicuro
Per tutto intorno da nojose Fiere.
Perche con tal valor, con si bell' arti
Alto sorgea fra gli altri, come suole
Fra 1' umile vermene eccelso abete."
My cousin Camilla Gonzaga di Novellara was much
delighted with this and other praise of the Gonzaga, and
her congratulations were the warmest of any, by which
the poet was so moved that he devoted himself entirely to
the fair Camilla for the rest of the afternoon. As I watched
them, a curious train of thought was started in my
mind. Why is it that some women have such an extra-
ordinary power of fascination over all the men who
approach them ? Of course, in a certain way, Madonna
* The object of Isabella d' Este's visit to Rome was to obtain a
Cardinal's hat for this boy Ercole.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
Isabella, even at her present advanced age,* attracts men
of letters and talent by her own bright intelligence and
appreciation, her unfailing tact and courtesy, so that as a
charming hostess she is always the centre of an interesting
circle. But it is something apart from this which I mean.
For instance, amongst Madonna's ladies-in-waiting there
is La Brognina, who is no longer young or really beauti-
ful — and I do not think she is even clever ; but whenever
she appears, the men flock round her like flies. There
must be something alluring about her, and such women,
which I do not in the least understand, although I can
see clearly that she has a gift of such insidious flattery, of
such lowly, adoring deference, that she can make any man
believe himself to be the wisest and noblest of human
beings ! I know that strange tales are whispered about
La Brognina, and it is even said that Madonna had to
dismiss her . . . but after the death of the Marchese
Francesco she was recalled by her mistress, who could not
live without her. To me La Brognina is always kind,
although she laughs at me in a good-natured way as a
" young frozen Diana, who will thaw and wake up some
day!"
It would be useless to pretend that I am not aware of
my pleasing appearance,! but I would far rather be admired
for my mind than for my face. Indeed, good looks are so
common in our family, both with brothers and sisters,
that we take the admiration of strangers as a matter of
course. I notice here that people eagerly ask to be pre-
sented to me ; they look at me with interest, perhaps
hazard a veiled compliment ; but the conversation usually
* Isabella d' Este was fifty-one, having been born in February, 1474.
t Even at this early age, the fame of Giulia's surpassing beauty
had spread through Italy.
3*
ITALIAN REFORMATION
flags, and my admirers mostly slip away to join the merry
group round La Brognina, or turn to Camilla and the
other ladies. I am afraid that I am not a social success,
but in truth I do not know where my fault lies. This
very afternoon Madonna Isabella, who had been most
kind in selecting and arranging my costume, sending her
own waiting-maid to dress my golden curls in some new
fashion, was evidently disappointed, and, turning to me
with an impatient movement, bade me sing a ballad of
Lombardy^ - Taken by surprise at this sudden request,
a desperate fit of shyness came over me at the thought of
singing before this august assembly ; all eyes seemed to be
fixed upon my burning cheeks, and I could not utter a note.
The Marchesa quickly turned towards Camilla Gonzaga,
who happened to have brought her viol, and was quite
prepared. She at once sang a most charming canzone
of Monsignor Pietro Bembo, to her own accompaniment,
and was warmly applauded. Her voice is much more
powerful than mine, and better suited to outdoor singing.
For the moment I had been overwhelmed with confusion,
but everyone was so kind, especially my cousin Camilla
herself, that I soon recovered my courage, and resolved
that I would never again be taken unawares.
Meantime, refreshments were served to us in the shady
loggia and under the trees, by noiseless attendants in
woodland dress. They brought marzipan and sweetmeats,
chestnut cakes and other dainties, wafers, sugared almonds,
and pine-seeds. Nor were cooling drinks wanting, for they
were served in great stone jars, and iced wines — Malvoisy,
Trebbiano, and Falernian. These were poured out into
silver goblets, and handed round to the company. When
this light repast was over, it seemed to me that the talk
became more intimate and personal.
39
A PRINCESS OF THE
Just below us, on the slope of the hill, amid a tangle
of wild roses, a carved antique sarcophagus was lying half
buried and forgotten. It suddenly caught the eye of
Madonna Isabella, who called attention to it with warm
admiration, and expressed an eager desire to have it for
her own tomb. But the Bishop of Carpentras pointed out
that the splendour of the monument had been disastrous
to its first owner, whose ashes had probably been cast to
the winds. " For my part," he added, " I would rather
choose a more simple memorial, and thus be left in peace,
by offering no temptation to the spoiler."
" Nay," exclaimed the Marchesa, " I would never content
myself with less than the best and most splendid. And
as for a monument, give me a fame so great that it shall
outlive the decay and destruction of time."
"Ah, Madonna, what is fame ?" asked Monsignor Pietro
Bembo. " A mere empty breath which profits us nothing.
What care I how men may speak of me when mine ears
are sealed in dust ? Give me a merry time, with wealth
and honour and many friends, while I dwell in the land
of the living, and I am well content."
After some further discussion, Messer Paolo Giovio
suggested that each one of the company should choose
that past character whose fame was most to be envied.
This met with warm approval, and the Marchesa was
called upon to lead the way. She made smiling reply :
" If I am to be the earliest sacrifice, my good friend, at
least you will select some resplendent name whose reflected
glory would make me worthy of that sarcophagus ?"
" You have set me a hard task, Madonna," said Messer
Paolo, with a deep obeisance. " Your own fame is so
transcendent that not amongst women of mortal birth
may I hope to find your peer. For that I must needs
40
ITALIAN REFORMATION
travel to Olympus, and there, amid the immortals, I would
make choice of the Lady Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom, as
alone worthy of Madonna's envy."
This delicate compliment was welcomed by an outburst
of applause, followed by a somewhat embarrassed silence,
for after that flight of rhetoric and flattery there seemed
little more to be said. It was La Brognina who gallantly
came to the rescue.
" As the ladies are expected to choose first, I will
venture to tell you my choice," she exclaimed in her high,
ringing notes. " There is no one whose renown I envy as
I do that of the fair Helen of Troy, whose beauty was so
surpassing that for her sake men were willing to sin, to
betray their country, to fight, and to die."
Although one might blush for her sentiments, and
tremble at her audacity, it was easy to see that such out-
spoken insolence was one reason of this lady's undoubted
popularity. After this, Camilla Gonzaga followed suit,
declaring in her soft, sweet voice that, as the Siege of
Troy had been alluded to, she had always deeply admired
the devotion of Andromache and the constancy of Penelope,
and would like to claim them both. It was the kind of
choice which might have been expected from my cousin's
gentle nature. As she turned to look at me with an
encouraging smile, I resolved to assert my presence of
mind. I was about to claim Iphigenia as the supreme
object of my envy and admiration, when I was startled by
the voice of Bishop Francesco Chiericati, a great friend of
Madonna Isabella, who had arrived late, and had taken a
place by my side :
" May I, as one of the oldest present, be permitted to
suggest the name of a lady whose character would be a fit
subject for the admiration of this fair maiden, the youngest
41
A PRINCESS OF THE
of our company ?" He paused, and then continued, amid
murmurs of assent : " To my mind, Signora Giulia is a
living symbol of that mysterious Beatrice, beloved of the
great poet Dante, yet ever unconscious of his adoration.
And for my own choice, as the sunflower unchidden may
worship the orb of day, so may I in all humility proclaim
that in my eyes the fame of Dante far surpasses that of
any mortal king or conqueror, saint or hero, whatsoever."
The dear old Bishop had always shown me much
kindness, but never before had his charming courtesy
proved a more welcome shield for my shy inexperience.
Madonna Isabella seemed pleased at the high compliment
paid me, and I had to endure some light raillery from her
ladies. Of the conversation which followed I remember
little, although I think that Homer and Virgil, Caesar and
Marcus Aurelius, all had special devotees of their fame.
We sat out in the delicious coolness, listening to the song
of nightingales, watching the dancing fireflies, and enjoy-
ing the scented dusk, until the shades of evening began to
close in around us, and we were summoned to the stately
banquet which closed the pleasures of the day.
In Rome, this fifteenth day of June, 1525.
I have this day had a most interesting experience,
which I will set down at once, lest I forget it. During
the great summer heat of this last week we have scarcely
passed beyond the precincts of the shady Colonna gardens.
But the Marchesa grew weary of such seclusion, and this
afternoon she announced her intention of paying some
state visits to friends in the city. I had the privilege of
joining her, with two other ladies, and we set forth after
our siesta for a drive in the" gorgeous chariot which
Madonna has had built for her, and which always excites
42
ITALIAN REFORMATION
so much sensation. Attended with suitable pomp, we
drove slowly, in a kind of triumphal progress, up the busy
Via Lata, then westward towards the Borgo, across the
Tiber, and through the Porta Santo Spirito into the long
Via Lungara, which lies between the river and the Janiculan
Hill. Here we soon reached the gates of the fine Palazzo
Salviati, the present abode of the illustrious Signor Jacopo
Salviati, Papal Secretary, whose wife, Madonna Lucrezia
dei Medici, was a daughter of the great Lorenzo the
Magnificent, and sister of Pope Leo X. They are in
high favour with their kinsman Pope Clement, and the
Marchesa told us that their son, Cardinal Giovanni Salviati,
had immense influence with His Holiness.
We were courteously welcomed by the Salviati, delight-
ful and cultivated people, very handsome and distinguished
looking. While the host devoted himself to the service
of the Marchesa, Madonna Lucrezia talked to me with
the greatest kindness, asking how I enjoyed my life at
Rome, and inquiring eagerly about my grandmother
Madonna Antonia, for whom she has the warmest admira-
tion. Then she led me across the splendid camera to a
window, where sat apart her daughter Maria, the wife of
the famous Giovanni dei Medici, leader of the Black
Bands, to whom she introduced me with a few friendly
words. I was much attracted by this lady, who was tall
and slight, and very handsome, although no longer quite
young,* with great, dark sad eyes which seemed to be the
home of a tragedy. We had had a long, quiet conversa-
tion together, for I had often heard my brother Luigi
Rodomonte speak with admiration of this Medici warrior,
and I was deeply interested in hearing about him from the
lips of his wife. Madonna Maria told me how he was
* Maria Salviati was then barely twenty-si?;.
43
A PRINCESS OF THE
unfortunately wounded by an arquebuse just before the
Battle of Pavia, and was in such serious danger that, by
the Pope's special command, the surgeons removed him
by boat to Piacenza. He was now slowly recovering from
his wound, but had been advised to complete his cure by
going to the mud-baths of Abana, near Padua.
"There is no one like my Giovanni !" she exclaimed.
" None can equal him in courage and audacity. Have
you heard how the French King vowed that if the leader
of the Black Bands had fought by his side on that fatal
day of Pavia, he would never have been taken captive, and
the fortunes of Europe might have been changed?"
There was a note of passionate pride in her words, and
I could not refrain from adding : " At least, for so gallant
a soldier, it would have been victory or death."
" You are right, dear Signora," was the sad reply.
" My husband's indomitable spirit places him constantly
in such deadly peril, that whenever I see a messenger
coming from the seat of war, I tremble, and feel as
though a sword were about to pierce my heart."
At this moment we were interrupted by the coming of a
little boy, the only son of Maria and Giovanni, who had
been sent for at the request of Madonna Isabella. He was
a handsome child, but not in the least like his beautiful
mother, and it seemed to me that for his age, barely live,
he was strangely confident and self-possessed, and he
made his obeisance to the visitors in silence, with the
most sedate and dignified courtesy. The Marchesa was
delighted with little Cosimo, but when we took our leave
shortly after, I could think of nothing but that momentary
poignant self-revelation of Madonna Maria. What a
terribly anxious time it must be for the loving wife of a
soldier, always away in distant wars, in constant deadly
44
ITALIAN REFORMATION
peril ! It is true that I had been accustomed from my
earliest childhood to know that my brothers and most of
my kinsmen were soldiers engaged in frequent wars ; but
the thought was so familiar that it seemed only natural
for the women to live at home, in uncertain hope from
day to day. But this passionate, absorbing love for one
implacable warrior, doomed by his own recklessness, was
quite another matter. Would not poor Maria Salviati
have been happier if her lot had placed her in some quiet
convent where such passion was unknown ? Such were
some of my dim questionings ; but there was no answer to
them. The common lot of woman seemed so far from me.
I lived in hopes of meeting Madonna Maria again, but
before long I was told that she had left the palace of her
parents at Rome, where in hot weather there was always
much sickness in the lower part of the city, and she was in
constant anxiety about the health of her precious little
Cosimo : she had taken him to one of the Medici castles
in the Mugnone, Giovanni's favourite mountain-home at
Trebbio, where the boy would grow strong in the fresh
bracing air and country life.
This second day of July, 1525.
I have had the great happiness these last few days of a
passing visit from my dear brother Luigi, on his way back
from the Court of the Emperor in Spain. How much
we had to hear and to tell each other of all that had taken
place since last we met ! I need not say how proud I am
of his brave deeds and of the admiration which he
receives on all sides, with his gallant carriage and brilliant
talk, his handsome sunny face and splendid stature. But
in the happy distraction of my thoughts I must not
forget to give some account of a delightful entertainment
45
A PRINCESS OF THE
in the Colonna gardens, given by the Marchesa in honour
of Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga.
Most of the former guests whom I have already
described were present, and to them were added the
young Cardinal Salviati and his mother Madonna Lu-
crezia, who told me that she remembered the like pleasant
meetings with her father, the Magnificent Lorenzo dei
Medici, in the Careggi gardens. On this special occasion
Luigi, as a rare and honoured visitor, was to select the
subject of our conversation, and his choice of the poet
Ariosto was warmly welcomed. It so happens that this
famous writer is the centre of interest at the moment, for
his play of the " Cassaria " has just been printed and
published in Rome. I am told that this work is not quite
suitable for my reading, but that it is a comedy in imita-
tion of Plautus, in the plot and characters, full of comical
intrigues and cross purposes, with farcical episodes of
mistaken identity. The scene is laid at " Sybaris "
(Ferrara, where it was first acted in 1508).
But I must return to Ariosto himself, and all that was
said about him on that heavenly afternoon in the Colonna
gardens. The Marchesa herself was graciously pleased to
open the discussion by relating the story of her close
friendship with the poet. She told how, when she was
recovering from illness at Mantua, after the birth of her
son Ferrante,* Ariosto had been sent by the Cardinal
d' Este to congratulate her.
" I had been interested with regard to the great poem
which he was then writing, the ' Orlando Furioso,' " con-
tinued Madonna, " the more so because I heard that it
carried on the story of the ' Orlando Innamorato,' by
Matteo Boiardo, and contained the same characters.
* In 1507.
46
ITALIAN REFORMATION
You, my young friends, will begin to think that I was in
the Ark with Noah, when I tell you that in 1491, twenty-
four years ago, that delightful poet Boiardo presented me
with the manuscript of his poem, which I possess to this
day. Imagine my joy when I found that Ariosto had
brought his ' Orlando Furioso ' with him, and, at my
urgent summons, he came to my bedside, and read it
aloud to me during the three precious days of his stay in
Mantua."
At these words there was a murmur of interest and
delight not unmixed with envy.
My brother Luigi gave voice to the general feeling when
he exclaimed :
" Madonna Illustrissima, there is no one like you !
Artists and poets and all famous men vie with each other
in claiming you as the source of their inspiration and in
laying their treasures at your feet."
This was a compliment which went straight to the
Marchesa's heart, and she responded by holding out in her
hands a superb volume of white vellum, embossed with
gold, announcing that this was one of the first copies of
the " Orlando Furioso," printed at Ferrera in 1516, which
the poet himself had brought to Mantua to present to her.
Then, in her sweet musical voice, she read aloud those
famous opening lines :
" Le donne, i cavalieri, 1' arme, gli amori,
Le cortesie, V audacie imprese io canto. . . ."*
" How goodly and beautiful does he make that chivalrous
world of knights and ladies ! Does he, indeed, hold it to be
a glorified mirror of our own times ?" she asked. " I love
* " I sing of ladies and knights, of arms and iQves,
Of courtesies and daring deeds. . . ,"
47
A PRINCESS OF THE
to think of that peerless Angelica, who has set the world
on fire by her beauty, and who so mysteriously finds her
way to the camp of Charlemagne. How fascinating is the
story of Orlando's love for her, and how tragic his sudden
madness when he discovers her devotion to Medoro ! In
truth, if Boiardo gives the outline of the story, it is our
Ariosto who clothes it with life and beauty."
Madonna paused for a moment, overcome with her
enthusiasm, then she turned with a smile to my brother :
" Signor Luigi, I will leave you to continue the tale, for
are you not yourself ' Rodomonte,' the type of that defiant
and untamable King of Sarza, Rodomonte, the Champion
of Islam, the hero of many a gallant deed ?"
Applause and laughter greeted this touch of humour,
and my brother gaily rose to the occasion. I would not
wish to seem prejudiced, but never have I heard so
splendid a tribute of devoted love and admiration as my
dear Luigi paid to his friend. My only regret was that
Ariosto himself could not hear it ! But, as we were
reminded, the sensitive poet had been sent to the wilds of
the Garfagnana, with the uncongenial task of ruling a
rebellious province. As he himself wrote : " This is a
deep trench in which I dwell, whence I move not a foot
without climbing the steep sides of the woody Apennines."
Luigi told a delightful story of how, when Ariosto was
reluctantly trying to put down the brigands, they became
the hunters and took him prisoner. But when they
discovered that he was the famous poet, they took him to
a courtly dwelling-place, and feasted him with a sumptu-
ous banquet, showing him all love and reverence, and
finally setting him free without any ransom.
Other charming anecdotes were told of him — how he
delighted in long walks alone, when he would become so
4 8
LODOVICO ARIOSTO (reputed).
National Gallery.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
absorbed in his thoughts that he took no note of time.
One summer day when he was at Carpi, he set forth on a
morning stroll in light velvet slippers, and quite uncon-
scious of the world around him, he walked on all day
until at eventide he found himself at Ferrara. These may
seem trivial matters, although they show us the man as he
is in his daily life.
Most striking was Luigi's profound knowledge and keen
appreciation of his friend's great poem. We followed
with breathless interest the whole career of his Orlando ;
his friends and his foes whom we learnt to love or hate,
while the main story was lightened with wars and loves of
all time and glowing romance. There rises before us that
magic castle where each approaching traveller sees his
beloved at a window, hears the familiar voice . . . but
day and night pursues in vain a fruitless search, for all is
witchcraft and delusion. So again with the magic garden
of Alcida, another form of the Circe myth. And those
adventures of the fair Angelica : how she is saved at the
critical moment by the coming of that most lovable and
perfect maiden warrior, Bradamante, in her snow-white
armour. And again, when Angelica is carried off to the
Hebrides and exposed on a barren rock in her naked
beauty to a devouring sea-monster, we tremble with fear
until she is duly rescued. We have a delicious touch of
the poet's humour when, months afterwards, the heroine
of this adventure, wishing to reward a shepherd, gives him
a precious coronet which she has brought from her
father's Court in China, and always kept with her in her
wanderings. " But where she kept it when she was
chained naked to the rock, I cannot tell," says Ariosto.
Perhaps the most charming episode of all was Astolfo's
flight, by way of Ethiopia, through the Earthly Paradise,
49 4
A PRINCESS OF THE
situated on a mountain near the equator, even as far as
the sphere of the moon, in a chariot of fire, under the
guidance of St. John. Here in a secluded valley, are all
the things lost on earth — fame which is being devoured
by Time, unaccepted prayers or vows, and the tears and
sighs of lovers. The vast empires of old are there, as a
heap of blown-out bladders, still full of the echoes of past
war and tumult. Astolfo finds that the flattering verses
written in praise of princes look like burst cicalas, and the
alms left to be given after death are but a heap of worth-
less refuse. Most strange of all, there is a row of bottles
of all sizes, containing the lost wits of every man on
earth who cannot take charge of them himself. Astolfo
is startled to find his own bottle, and also the larger one
of Orlando's, which he carries back to earth with him,
and is thus able to restore the famous hero to reason.
Here we reach the climax of our story, the " Orlando
Furioso," which is so well known throughout the world
that I will say no more about it. When Luigi had ended
his discourse there was a storm of applause, and some
interesting discussion followed. Monsignor Bembo cour-
teously prayed my brother to recite one of his beautiful
poems, which he modestly declined, to my great dis-
appointment, " not having it with him." I longed to
quote one from memory.
After this all too brief visit of my brother Luigi, I seem
to find little of interest to record in my youthful day-
book for some months. The great heat of that early
autumn brought sickness and anxiety, and early in
October, Madonna Isabella received news of the death of
her brother-in-law, Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga, at
Mantua. She lost not a moment in vain regrets, but
ordered her chariot and drove at once to the Vatican to
5°
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implore that the Pope would bestow on her son Ercole
the vacant dignity. But His Holiness was never to be
taken by surprise ; he temporized in the most courteous
manner, and only when pressed to extremity, did he write
a vague promise to give Ercole the Cardinal's hat on the
first opportunity. The death of Cardinal Sigismondo
was a great blow to his sister, Madonna Elisabetta,
Dowager- Duchess of Urbino, and this most beloved lady,
who was in delicate health, never recovered from the
shock. She passed away in January, 1526, to the great
sorrow of her many friends. I had seen her once as a
child, and her sweet gentleness won my heart. Perhaps
the most touching memorial of her is contained in the
charming book of Baldassare Castiglione, the " Corti-
giano," where the noble Duchess figures as the hostess
and the inspiration of that unrivalled coterie.
The Marchesa had always been her intimate friend, and
I am sure that she felt the loss, but she never gives way
to her feelings in a manner to disturb her placid equa-
nimity or imperil her carefully-guarded health.
Si
A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER V
The Day-Book of Giulia Gonzaga (continued) : Vittoria Colonna in
Rome, after the death of her husband, the Marchese di Pescara
— Her story and her sonnets — The great lord, Vespasiano
Colonna, son of Prospero Colonna, is a suitor for the hand of
Giulia Gonzaga — The splendid wedding takes place on June 26,
1526 — Account of the journey across the Campagna to the
Castello of Pagliano.
This fourteenth day of December, 1525.
I must not omit to set down an incident which has given
me the greatest pleasure. There has been much excite-
ment lately in Rome from the coming of Madonna
Vittoria Colonna, the widowed Marchesa di Pescara, who
has so recently lost her husband. She has been lately
a constant subject of conversation with her kinsman, the
Cardinal Colonna, and his brother, the Lord Vespasiano
Colonna, who has paid several visits to Rome, sometimes
to this Colonna palace, but more often to the splendid
Palazzo Cancellaria in the Piazza Paradiso, close to the
Campo de' Fiori, that delightful market-place. I must
mention that the Cardinal's brother is a most interesting
and accomplished gentleman ; he seems to like my
society, and has always shown me as much courtesy and
respectful attention as though I were really a grown-up
signora.
! This is the story of Madonna Vittoria as I have heard it.
52
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She was the daughter of Fabrizio Colonna, Grand Con-
stable of Naples, and was betrothed as a child to Ferrante
Francesco d' Avalos. She was brought up in the Island of
Ischia by the accomplished Costanza d' Avalos, and
married the young Marchese di Pescara in 1509,
when they were both nineteen. She was absolutely
devoted to her young husband, who, like Giovanni dei
Medici, was constantly engaged in distant wars, and had
other matters to occupy his thoughts. Brognina one day
inadvertently told the story of the infatuation of Pescara
for our Marchesa's beautiful lady-in-waiting, Delia, which
his loving wife never suspected, but she was hushed at
once. The influence of Vittoria over her husband seems
to have restrained him in a moment of temptation, when
he seems to have listened to hints of secret treachery,
when she wrote :
" Consider well what you are doing. ... I care not to
be the wife of a King,* but rather of a faithful and loyal
man ; for it is not riches, titles, and kingdoms, which can
give true glory, infinite praise, and perpetual renown to
noble spirits desirous of eternal fame, but faith, sincerity,
and other virtues of the soul. . . ." The Marchese di
Pescara fought with distinction at the Battle of Pavia
last February, but has been ill since, and was taken worse
lately at Milan. On receiving the news, Madonna Vittoria
set forth in anxious haste from Naples, but on reaching
Viterbo, she was met with the fatal news of his death.
In the sudden despair of her broken heart, the poor lady
had not the courage to continue her sad journey, and her
first thought was to escape from the world and take
refuge in a convent, and she remembered that in Rome,
close by, was the Religious House of Santa Chiara.
* The Kingdom of Naples had been offered to Pescara as a bribe.
53
A PRINCESS OF THE
This is connected with the Church of San Silvestro in
Capite, where the Baptist's head is a treasured relic.
Overwhelmed and crushed with grief, the widowed lady
made her way to this convent, where so many noble
ladies of the Colonna family have taken their vows in
past days. But now comes the curious part, which I
heard from the lips of Monsignor Jacopo Sadoleto, the
Bishop of Carpentras. He is an intimate friend of
Madonna Vittoria, for whom he has the greatest admira-
tion, and he felt that it would be a disaster to the whole
civilized world if this accomplished poetess were suffered
to bury herself in the monastic life. He at once hastened
to Pope Clement, whose secretary he then was, and laid
the matter before him, imploring his assistance to prevent
the withdrawal from society of one who was its greatest
ornament. The Pope quite agreed with Sadoleto, and
caused a Brief to be prepared without delay and sent to
the Abbess and nuns of San Silvestro, in which His
Holiness permitted them to receive into their home and
to console " omnibus spiritualibus et temporalibus consola-
tionibus " the Most Excellent Marchesa di Pescara, but in
which it was expressly forbidden to them, " under pain of
the greater excommunication," to permit the noble lady
to take the veil " impetu potius sui dolores, quam maturo
consilio circa mutationem vestium vidualium in monas-
ticas." This Brief, of which a copy was shown to us by
Monsignor Sadoleto, was dated on December 7, just a
week ago.
Madonna was so keenly interested in the story that she
expressed a strong desire to pay a visit of sympathy and
condolence to the unfortunate Lady Vittoria. " It would
only be a fitting return for the kindness shown to me by
54
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the Colonna family," she said. With the Marchesa, to
form a desire was to take steps at once to realize it. The
chariot was ordered for that afternoon, and as no one
expressed a strong desire to go on so sad a mission, to my
great contentment Madonna took me with her. We had
not far to drive — up the Via Lata, and then, turning to
the right, down the Via delle Convertite, until we came to
the fine Church of San Silvestro in Capite, adjoining the
convent. The portress admitted us into a little waiting-
chamber with a barred lattice on one side, but when she
heard the inquiry for the Signora Vittoria Colonna she
assured us that the widowed lady saw no one. However,
Madonna Isabella was not to be so easily discouraged.
She requested to be taken at once to the presence of the
Lady Abbess, and, on hearing her name and dignity, the
timid lay-sister hastily obeyed, and I was left behind,
forgotten by them both. Through a narrow window of
the gloomy cell, I had caught a glimpse of a sunny garden
beyond, and when the portress returned I begged to be
allowed to wait there until my lady's return. The good
woman kindly consented, only imploring' me not to walk
beyond the secluded corner or to pass in sight of the
convent windows.
This was a delightful adventure for me, and I tried to
fancy myself a cloistered nun, as I paced slowly up and
down in the sunshine between the orange-trees in Etruscan
pots, and the snowy hyacinths, which filled the air with
sweetness. I had reached my boundary at the corner,
when of a sudden, a shadow crossed my path, and I found
myself looking into the startled blue eyes of a tall woman
draped in heavy mourning, who had noiselessly approached,
wrapped in the deepest thought. She drew back at the
55
A PRINCESS OF THE
sight of an intruder, but almost unconsciously continued
the low words which she was repeating to herself :
" I only write to vent that inward pain
On which my heart doth feed itself, nor needs
Aught other nourishment. . . ."*
As I listened I felt certain that my first surmise was right
— surely this was the dear Lady Vittoria pouring forth her
impassioned lay of regret. But for the intense sympathy
reflected in my face, I must have looked like a Niobe
turned to marble silence. I did not move; I made no
futile excuse for my intrusion . . . and at length the
vision spoke to me.
" Who are you, my beautiful child ? Do you dwell
here ?" she asked in a sweet, thrilling voice.
My reply seemed to come from far off, constrained by a
will beyond my own :
" My name is Giulia Gonzaga, of Sabbioneta, of the
house of Madonna Antonia del Balzo. I am but a stranger
in Rome, a guest of Madonna Isabel of Mantua, in the
Colonna Palace."
" Ah, I remember ; I have heard of you," she began ;
then, after a pause, added : " The sun of my life has
set while it is still early dawn for you. Farewell, dear
child, and never forget that Love must be our master-
spirit. Such is my perfect trust — ay, and though he slay
me, yet will I kiss his naming sword."
A shadowy smile, a parting wave of the hand, and the
lady of my dreams was gone ... to haunt me evermore
with her stately presence and the heavenly music of her
words. . . .
* Beginning of the first of her sonnets to her husband's memory,
which Vittoria Colonna wrote in the Convent of San Silvestro.
56
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Hitherto, in all the gay and courtly entertainments,
which I enjoyed to the full, and in which I received all
the attention and admiration which a grown-up lady
might expect, I was in truth, with all my quick intelli-
gence, only a child at heart. My life had been like a
rippling stream, gaily dancing over smooth pebbles through
flowery meadows in the sunshine. But now the scene was
about to change : there were ravines to cross, unseen perils
to meet, and the broad flowing river could never return
to the free, careless grace of the mountain stream from
whence it rose.
For me, the awakening to womanhood came with a
sudden shock. I have already alluded to the frequent
visits paid by the Lord Vespasiano Colonna to his brother
the Cardinal in Rome. His invalid wife, the Lady Bianca
Appiano, had died the previous summer, and he possibly
found it a lonely life in that grim fortress-castle of the
Campagna, where his only daughter Isabella had been
placed with a kinswoman for her education. In any case,
Madonna Isabella welcomed him with eager hospitality,
and it so chanced that, during the spring months of the
year 1526, my Lord Colonna was a frequent and honoured
guest, a most devoted and generous friend. The Marchesa
could not express a wish that was not gratified at once.
It might be a visit to newly-discovered antiquities, when
some priceless marble or mosaic would be offered for her
acceptance ; or, again, if she suggested a pilgrimage to
some famous sanctuary or ancient palace of the Eternal
City, all its treasures would be spread out before us and
explained with learning and eloquence. Another day it
might be a select hunting or hawking party at La Magliana
or some other splendid demesne near Rome, and the
beautiful wild creatures would give us matchless sport.
57
A PRINCESS OF THE
But I found most delightful of all, those long sunny days
when we set forth on a gay ride in the early morning,
along the Appian Way and through the fair stretches of
the Campagna until, as we reached the border of some
wooded dale, a magic banquet would suddenly appear
beneath the shady trees, where we would spend the noon-
tide hour in feasting and song.
By some curious chance — or was it a deep-laid plot of
La Brognina and Camilla my cousin ? — there seemed to
be always a vacant place by my side, where the Lord
Vespasiano was wont to ride and beguile the way with
interesting talk. He told me many stories of the past in
those classic scenes ; he was an authority upon beasts and
birds and all things connected with the country ; and he
ever spoke with such charming deference, not as though
teaching me, but merely recalling to my memory facts
which I already knew. So the time glided smoothly by,
in one round of pleasant festivities, until one summer day
I was bidden to attend the Marchesa in her private
reception-room. How well I remember every detail as
if it were but yesterday, in that fair chamber, rich with
the treasures which my cousin had already collected in
Rome or received as presents, with long windows opening
towards the beautiful gardens, and a splendid view of the
city below. Madonna rose from her couch as I entered,
and came forward to meet me with outstretched hands.
" My dear cousin, I offer you my warmest congratula-
tions ! You have made a great conquest," she exclaimed,
in a tone of triumph.
I drew back in vague alarm, and asked faintly :
" What do you mean, Madonna mia ?"
" Do you act the part of ignorance, my pretty Giulia ?"
she laughed. " Am I to look upon you as a child in sim-
58
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plicity? Surely, after playing your fish with so much
discretion, you cannot be greatly surprised that you have
landed him at last?"
I stood mute with dismay, for, alas ! I understood her
meaning, although I was absolutely innocent of the design
she suspected.
" Your face is too transparent for deceit, my dear child ;
your blushes have betrayed you," said the Marchesa calmly.
" Yes, this very day, the Lord Vespasiano Colonna, head
of that great house, Duke of Traetto, Count of Fondi, the
Lord of Gennazzano, Pagliano, and many other stately
castles and rich possessions — he has asked for your hand
in marriage, and I have sent a messenger to Sabbioneta to
make known this high honour to your father, the Signor
Lodovico Gonzaga."
The blow had fallen. As in a flash of insight, I realized
that I had only been a counter in the Marchesa's game of
ambition. Why had this great lady seen fit to take me in
her train and set me off to the best advantage, save in the
hope that she might have the reflected glory of arranging
a splendid match for me ? This was the sword of Damocles
which had hung over me from my earliest days ; the
common lot of woman was upon me, and I must go the
way my sisters had gone before me. My case was hope-
less. Who would take my side, or even listen to my
protest ? With what consummate skill had Madonna
passed off her responsibility to my own people ! Her
message to Sabbioneta was no mere asking their consent ;
it was the proclaiming of her own triumphant success.
I could not even turn to my brother Luigi for help ; I
remembered too vividly his calm decree that for a girl the
only choice lay between marriage and the cloister.
I knew that my case was hopeless, but some wildness
59
A PRINCESS OF THE
in my blood drove me to futile rebellion, and I breathed
one desperate prayer that I might be inspired with words
which would appeal to the arbiter of my fate. Half falling
on my knees before her, I clasped her hands with an
imploring cry :
" Madonna mia, have pity on me ! Indeed, I have no
vocation for marriage. ... I know that all my kinsfolk
will be against me, that the world will call me mad to
refuse so magnificent a position ; but ... I would sooner
die ! . . . You alone can help me, Madonna, for you have
the wisdom to understand, even if you cannot sympathize
with me. Say that you cannot spare me," I urged
impetuously; "let me stay in your service as your
faithful lady-in-waiting for ever and ever . . . like La
Brognina . . ."
" No, no, not like her," was the whispered interruption,
as my cousin raised me in her arms and drew me to a
seat by her side. " This is tragic indeed," she continued.
" I never dreamed that my little Giulia could be in such
deadly earnest — a rebel against the very foundations of
society ! You know how it is my way to collect all that is
rare and unique, and perhaps I ought to secure you for
my museum ! But I dimly perceive a better way. Tell
me, Giulia : you have no fault to find with my Lord
Vespasiano, for you have been most friendly with him ?"
" Indeed, Madonna," I hastily replied, " there is no one
in whose society I take greater pleasure ; he is a most
courteous and accomplished gentleman. But ..."
" But of course that is not love, you would say. Then
why not continue on those terms ?" she asked quietly.
" At the present day there is nothing more usual than
those political ' marriages only in name ' for the future,
when either bride or bridegroom are very young ; and
60
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you are barely thirteen yet. The Colonna Prince, as you
know, is nearly eight lustres older than yourself — beyond
the period of violent passion — while you have not reached
the age of its awakening. Why not meet upon that neutral
ground of a platonic affection ? Vespasiano Colonna is
the soul of chivalry, and will await the day when Galatea
shall step down from her cold marble pedestal and be
transformed into a living woman of flesh and blood."
Then she went on to mention the name of her beloved
Elisabeth Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino, " whose blessed
soul may the Lord have in His keeping," and other noble
ladies who were in like case, and famed in history.
But at this last remark my heart rebelled ; for of the
world one asked, not fame, but silence and oblivion.
When once my consent had been obtained, all befell as
I expected. My relations far and near were delighted
with this great alliance, which would add to the glory and
honour of our family. I already seemed to have won
golden opinions from the House of Colonna, and was
most courteously welcomed into their august circle, while
Madonna Isabella treated me with the utmost kindness
and affection, as a personal triumph of her successful
diplomacy.
Of the crowded days which followed I seem to retain
only the dim memory of a flamboyant and distracting
dream. Costly wedding gifts were lavished upon me by
the Colonna and Gonzaga family, and I recollect my
naive delight in the beautiful jewels, and above all in an
exquisite rope of pearls specially selected for me by the
Lord Vespasiano. My cousin Camilla, La Brognina, and
the other Court ladies were most friendly and considerate ;
but as I kept much apart, and had no girlish confidences
61
A PRINCESS OF THE
to bestow, I fear they thought me proud and elated by
my prospects. When the marriage contract was drawn
up, in which I was treated with princely generosity, my
dowry being 70,000 ducats, a special messenger was sent
with full particulars by the Mantuan Ambassador at Rome
to the Duke Federico Gonzaga of Mantua as head of our
house. In the midst of all this excitement my letters of
congratulation from home were my greatest comfort and
support. My mother, full of anxious pride, gave me
advice on the due ordering of a great household, warning
me against extravagance, and bidding me study my hus-
band's tastes and wishes in all things, thus making his
will and pleasure the rule of my life. My father, who was
more at home with the sword than the pen, wrote a letter
in which pride at my elevation and sorrow for my loss
contended for the mastery. He deeply regretted that the
unfortunate contest and family dissensions about the lord-
ship of Casalmaggiore would prevent his coming to Rome
for my wedding, but that my uncle Pirro Gonzaga would
take his place and give me away. . . .
The most precious greeting of all was that from my
beloved avola* Madonna Antonia. She gave no good
advice, no sermon on my duties ; she did not even allude
to my personal feelings. The dear lady simply expressed
her perfect trust that in my new life I should show myself
worthy of my name and lineage ; that the strong character
and many talents which were my heritage would enable
me to take a high place amongst those noble ladies,
already so renowned, of the Colonna family. Of Madama's
devoted love for me I was so well assured that many
words were not needed to express it.
I must not omit to mention one touching little gift
* Grandmother.
62
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which I received with much gratitude. The Lady Vittoria
Colonna had not forgotten our meeting, and she sent me
a copy of the last poem she had written, beginning thus :
" Amor, tu sai, che mai non torsi il piede
Dal career tuo soave, ne disciolsi
Dal dolce giogo il collo, ne ti tolsi
Quanto dal primo di 1' alma ti diede. ..." *
The eventful wedding-day, which had been fixed for
June 26, t rises before me as a strange exotic scene of
gorgeous magnificence, of which I was the shining centre,
and where I played my part as in some bewildered dream.
At the last moment an unlooked-for joy awaited me — the
arrival of my dear brother Luigi, who had ridden night
and day across the plains of Italy that he might do honour
to his favourite sister. His coming was the one touch of
simple home affection which I needed to give me courage
for my adventure, and his satisfaction was so complete
and outspoken that it seemed to disperse all the mists of
doubt and fear.
What a splendid figure he was, standing head and
shoulders taller than most men, with rich chestnut curls
clustering round his noble brow, his smiling blue eyes full
of genial merriment — an Apollo and Hercules in one !
It was small wonder that Isabella Colonna, my step-
daughter-to-be, who then saw him for the first time,
watched him with admiring eyes, and henceforth looked
upon Luigi as her ideal of manhood. He took leave of
* " Thou knowest, Love, I never sought to flee
From thy sweet prison, nor impatient threw
Thy dear yoke from my neck ; nor e'er withdrew
What, that first day, my soul bestowed on thee. . . ."
t Of the year 1526.
A PRINCESS OF THE
us soon after the stately ceremony was over, and before
the sumptuous festivities were at an end.
I look back upon our wedding journey to my future
home at Pagliano as an adventure of delight, for the first
shyness of my new position had soon worn off in the calm
atmosphere of affection and unfailing courtesy with which
my Lord Vespasiano surrounded me. Our three days'
travel through that marvellous Campagna was like a royal
progress, for we were passing chiefly through the hereditary
domains of the great Colonna family. Each day we started
at dawn to avoid the great heat, and in that fresh, balmy
air of early morn, all the world was full of strange glamour.
With what interest I listened to the thrilling story of
olden days, told by my lord with familiar knowledge and
keen personal pride in the deeds of his ancestors ! Thus
we passed down the Appian Way, by those ancient tombs
so pathetic in their mute reminder of the forgotten dead,
and onward towards Castel Gondolfo, where the midday
siesta was arranged in a woody glade. Here tents had
been already pitched by the attendants, and a banquet
was spread for us in the shade. Not until the sun was
sinking towards the west did we continue our ride, turning
abruptly upward in the direction of Marino, where we
spent the night in one of the Colonna palaces. It was a
delightful holiday excursion, not alone for me, but for
Isabella, who was our constant companion, and enjoyed
the novelty of seeing her stately father unbend for our
amusement.
Fortunately, the young girl had taken a strong liking
for me as a friend of her own age, and from the first,
I was most careful not to arouse her jealousy in any way
by asserting my precedence as the Princess Colonna.
For, in very truth, was it not all make-believe, and was
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not my married dignity only a myth and a delusion in
this "wedding for the future," as the Marchesa had
rightly called it ? When we were alone together, Isabella
was never weary of asking questions about my brother
Luigi, and it is possible that the glamour which sur-
rounded him in her girlish fancy, cast some reflected
charm upon me, his sister. In any case, we were the best
of friends, and it was with deep regret that we found this
pleasant journey drawing to a close when we made our
last halt at Genazzano, only six miles from Pagliano.
Here was another fine Colonna castle, but my chief
interest was in the famous pilgrim shrine of the Madonna
del Buon Officio. We were guided by an Augustine monk
into the chapel, where the lights were kept ever burning
in honour of the Sacred Image, which he told me had
come down from heaven and had performed many
miracles. He prayed me to come again on the Festa
Day, September 8, when I might see the marvellous con-
course of pilgrims from all parts of the world, and I might
possibly be so blest as to witness some amazing miracle.
When I turned to ask the Lord Vespasiano's consent,
I was struck by the coldness of his manner and his want
of interest in the whole miraculous story. This was my
first hint of a new phase in his character — a freedom of
thought and absence of superstition which both startled
and interested me. I took so keen an interest in all new
and advanced opinions that, in days to come, this became
a fresh bond between us.
At length we were approaching Pagliano, the mountain
home where I was to reign as a queen. I could scarcely
control my excitement as there rose before me, in the
ruddy glow of sunset light, a rocky summit crowned by
the impregnable Colonna fortress. Overshadowed on the
6 S 5
A PRINCESS OF THE
left by the great peak of the Serrone, standing forth like
a mighty pyramid from its mountain chain, Pagliano
seemed to be perched like an eagle's nest on an isolated
hill rising steeply from the broad plain of the Sacco, and
commanding all the country round. Clothed almost to
the heights with a primeval forest of oaks and chestnuts,
all the lower slopes were rich with vineyards and silvery
olives, through which we made our slow ascent after
fording the swift torrent which came foaming down from
the mountain. At the entrance of the scattered town,
a warm reception awaited us from my lord's vassals ; but
as we rode upwards, my eager gaze was fixed on the
splendid palace, built of dark tufa, in a great square quad-
rangle, standing grandly on the edge of the wild hillside,
with a marvellous view over the misty Campagna.
As I was lifted across the threshhold, according to the
bridal custom, the Lord Vespasiano, in most courteous
language, welcomed me as lady and mistress of his
stately home. There were only two floors, but they were
of vast extent, and the many chambers were furnished
with rich treasures of art, hung with rare tapestries from
Flanders, and the ceilings were painted in fresco with
gold and azure. In the lofty entrance-hall there were
trophies of war and of the chase — old armour and flags
which had figured in many a battle, heads of wild beasts
and splendid antlers. Then an ancient kinswoman who
was in charge of that great household, conducted me to
the beautiful southern suite of rooms where Madonna
Beatrice had lived for years in seclusion, and which were
henceforth to be at my absolute disposal. She pointed
out how they had been entirely renewed and beautified
with richly embroidered hangings for the windows and the
carved bedstead, with priceless caskets of Venetian work,
66
ITALIAN REFORMATION
wonderful carved chests painted by skilled artists, finely
sculptured woodwork panelling on the walls, and chairs
inlaid with ivory.
But that which delighted me most was the choice
musical instruments — an organ from Cremona, a viol, and
a silver lyre — while in painted recesses in the walls, were
illuminated manuscripts and precious vellum-bound books
from the printing-press of Aldo Manuzio at Venice and
the monastery of Subiaco. Everything that heart could
desire had been made ready for me, and not a wish that I
could express was left ungratified by my peerless, chival-
rous husband.
I love to dwell upon those happy days of peaceful
enjoyment ; all too brief — a lull before the coming storm
of war. It was my special privilege to be the constant
companion of the Lord Vespasiano in the early morning
rides, so fresh and delicious on that wooded mountain-
side, when together we visited the nearer farms and
vineyards on his great estate, or he would take a pride in
pointing out to me every nook and corner of the mighty
citadel, and seemed ever to have some fresh thrilling
story of the past. My lord would tell me how this
tower or bastion was attacked and gallantly defended;
how the enemy's artillery had been dragged up the high,
steep rock in the darkness of the night, only to be
discovered and hurled down into the ravine below, before
even a breach had been made in the walls. As I listened
to him, I learned to look with respect and almost awe
upon this gallant Colonna Prince who, past middle life
and of uncertain health, had still the heart of a warrior
and a hero. Perhaps too much so for my peace of mind,
for this mirage of happiness was all too short.
The end of Giulids Day -Book.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER VI
The political situation of Italy in the year 1526 — The Colonna Raid
upon Rome — The Pope, Clement VII., takes his revenge —
Rivalry between Spain and France — The Pope's double-dealing
— Overwhelming invasion of Italy and sack of Rome, May,
1527 — A time of unspeakable horror — Luigi Rodomonte Gon-
zaga protects Isabella d' Este, and helps the Pope to escape
from Rome — Death of Giulia's husband, Vespasiano Colonna,
March, 1527 — His will, Pagliano defended by Luigi, who be-
comes betrothed to Isabella Colonna.
In those troubled days for Italy it was not probable that
the most warlike of the Colonna, the son of the famous
Prospero, the modern " Quintus Fabius Maximus," would
long remain in the peaceful seclusion of his mountain
castle of Pagliano. A few words will be useful to explain
the political situation at that moment.
When Charles V. had released the King of France from
captivity in March, 1526, after signing the Treaty of
Madrid, Francois I. was no sooner free than he broke all
his promises, and formed a League against the Emperor,
in which he was joined by the time-serving Pope, by
Venice, Milan, and other States. Charles was furious at
this breach of faith, and more enraged with Clement VII. ,'
who had professed to be close friend and ally. He sent
to Italy a special agent, Don Ugo de Moncado, with secret
directions to detach the Pope from the League by any
means in his power, and the first result of this mission
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
was the arrival at Pagliano of a dark, stern-looking
Spaniard on some mysterious mission. An atmosphere
of gloom and unrest seemed to fill the palace, and there
were many private gatherings of Colonna kinsmen, until,
on the fatal morning of September 18, an armed company
of vassals set forth from the castle, and soon after arrived
the astounding news that Moncada had drawn the
Colonna brothers and the Cardinal himself * into an
armed invasion of Rome to bring the Pope to his
senses. They had met with scarcely any opposition, and
Clement VII., in mortal terror, had fled to the fortress of
Sant' Angelo, leaving the Vatican to be sacked by the
soldiers. It seems that the Pope was hated in Rome by
the populace for his cruel extortion ; he had recently put
taxes on the wine and fruit, on all things sold in the
market, and even " on the poor women who washed their
clothes in the Tiber !" When the Lord Vespasiano
returned to Pagliano in triumph, he was able to announce
that the Pope had promised to renounce the League, and
to call back his troops from Milan as well as the galleys
he had sent to Genoa. As security for his good faith, he
had given as hostages a young Salviati, and Filippo
Strozzi, " a most unfriendly deed," as his wife Madonna
Clarice had good cause to complain, for, in the light
of after events, she vowed that " Strozzi was basely and
foully sent like an innocent lamb to the slaughter." The
lady had " great power of tongue," but her words were
true, for as soon as Pope Clement was out of danger,
he broke every pledge, and so risked the lives of his
hostages.
In spite of his sworn amnesty, the Pope sent a strong
force into the territory of the House of Colonna to
* Cardinal Pompeo, cousin of Vespasiano Colonna.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
ravage it with fire and sword, destroying fourteen castles
and villages, with a base and terrible massacre of the
unfortunate vassals — men, women, and children. Every-
where was ruin and desolation, and this atrocious cruelty,
" worse than the Turks in Hungary," was by order of the
Holy Father of the Church ! Faith was shaken to its
very foundations. How was it possible to honour the
" Vicar of Christ," or to believe him infallible who could
commit such barbarous crimes ? Surely there was deep
cause for that new spirit of reform, concerning which so
much was heard in Germany and other lands !
But even in this present world such treachery was
destined to meet with due punishment, and a terrible
Nemesis was at hand for the Pontiff who had so shamed
his sacred office. It would be too long to set down the
tangled politics of those anxious months which followed ;
the fierce struggle and rivalry between the young Emperor
and the young King of France — the wars and counter-
wars — and the fatal deceit and vacillation of the Pope,
who continued to make treaties only to break them.
Luigi Rodomonte fought bravely in the service of
Charles V. ;] but on one occasion, near the Pieve di San
Jacopo, he was suddenly attacked by an overwhelming
force of the enemy. He made a gallant defence, prepared
to die rather than yield ; but the opposing commander,
Marcantonio Martinengo, in admiration of his valour,
appealed to Luigi to consider the inequality of the con-
test, and to spare the lives of his brave followers. Thus
abjured, Luigi gave up his sword,^and was conducted with
all honour to the Castle of Soncino, but was promptly set
at liberty. Such friendly deeds of chivalry were by no
means unusual in this war of Italian against Italian, to
serve a foreign cause. There often seemed to be some-
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
thing unreal about it all ; an encounter was at times so
like a glorified tournament. The opposing captains
might be real friends and kindred spirits, writing stanzas
in praise of each other, rivals in splendour and in magna-
nimity.
Luigi was not to blame in this adventure, for as Bocca-
lini wisely says : " He yielded to adverse fortune, believing,
like many Captains, ancient and modern, that in this is
more honour and glory than to sacrifice his people and
himself. . . . To avoid adversity is prudence, and the
leader who has this gift will seldom or never fail. For
with prudence and the ' Signor Dio ' for his guide, he will
always on all occasions be superior to others. . . ."*
It was in December, 1526, that there came to Giulia
sad news of the death of that dauntless Giovanni delle
Bande Nere, who, in the service of his kinsman, Pope
Clement, was fighting on the French side. The young
Condottiere was defending with reckless valour the cross-
ing of the Po, when he was wounded by one of those
modern falconets which he despised, borne through the
snow to Mantua, where, with heroic courage, he died
a hero's death in the house of Lodovico Gonzaga. Giulia
felt the deepest pity for his devoted young wife, Maria
Salviati, whom she had met in Rome. Poor lady ! Her
forecasts of fear had indeed been realized, and the sword
had pierced her heart.
It was a sad and anxious winter for the country ; yet
when the glamour of early spring dawned over the heights
of Pagliano, Giulia could look back upon many joyous
sunny days. She was again the Lord Vespasiano's con-
stant companion in his morning rides through that wild,
* Letter of Francesco Boccalini from Sabbioneta, written Novem-
ber 15, 1526.
7i
A PRINCESS OF THE
beautiful land, where the lark sang his cento novelle
antiche, where the almond-tree burst forth into blossom,
and the shivering grey leaves of the olive gleamed like
silver in the changing light. Then in quick succession
came the flowering season of the peach, the apple, the
pear, the fig-tree, and the red pomegranate ; while the
earth smiled back upon man with her rich treasures — the
white mountain heath, the yellow broom, the gum cistus,
the caper-flowers, narcissus, lilies and asphodel, foxgloves
and roses. If the Colonna lord smiled at his bride's
girlish enthusiasm for all this beauty, he too loved it, for
he was a son of the soil, and his native hills were very
dear to him.
Yet this brief halcyon time was but the lull before the
storm which was gathering around, and was to bring such
a terrible awakening. In her letters from home, Giulia
had learned that her brother Luigi was in command of an
Italian company in the Imperial army led by Charles
Duke of Bourbon, who had joined the motley horde of
barbarians brought from Germany by Frundsberg. Luigi
and the other leaders were in a most painful position, as
there was no money forthcoming from the Emperor to
pay all these rough soldiers, who loudly demanded " pay
or pillage," and who were, in fact, masters of the
situation. The Pope, terror-stricken, played fast and
loose with both sides, and did nothing but make treaties
and break them. His duplicity caused the final catastrophe,
when the army, maddened by false hopes, starving and
demoralized, insisted upon marching against Rome. We
are all familiar with that awful tragedy, when Charles de
Bourbon was struck down at the first assault, and upon
Luigi Gonzaga fell the task of leading the way through
the walls of Rome, by the Porta Aurelia and the Setti-
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
mania, until he took possession of the Borgo San Pietro.
Pope Clement fled in terror to the Castel Sant' Angelo,
and was accompanied by the Cardinals and other prelates,
amongst whom was Luigi's brother, Pirro Gonzaga. The
soldiers, mad with triumph after all their sufferings, were
beyond all control ; and then followed that fearful sack of
the Eternal City, of which the very thought fills one with
shuddering horror. A later account from her cousin
Camilla told Giulia how they fared at the Colonna
palace, which was full of refugees. The Marchesa was in
no serious alarm for herself, as the leader, Charles de
Bourbon, was her nephew, while her son Ferrante and
Luigi Gonzaga were also in the Imperial army. But it
was a time of terrible uncertainty until late on that fatal
Sunday, May 5, when Camilla saw her brother Alessandro
crossing the Piazza, and he first brought news of Bourbon's
death. Then Ferrante Gonzaga arrived, to the great joy
of his mother, who had not seen him for three years.
Her friends secured the safety of the Marchesa, but those
who had taken shelter under her roof were compelled to
pay a heavy ransom.
It was a great comfort to the young Colonna Princess
to hear that her brother utterly refused any share of the
spoils ; indeed, he spent all that he possessed in paying
ransom for his friends and those whom he pitied. As the
Venetian envoy wrote : " The generous conduct of Signor
Luigi is beyond all praise."* Gandolfo Porrino wrote a
poem on the subject.
A week later the Marchesa and her household made
their escape ; she had attained the object of her visit to
Rome, having won by her indomitable perseverance a
Cardinal's hat for her son Ercole, at the price of 40,000
* M. Sanuto, " Diarii," xlv. 207.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
ducats ! It was Giulia's brother Pirro who was sent with
it by the Pope ; and Madonna also contrived to carry
away many spoils from the pillage of the city — she did so
love beautiful things.
It was a sad time for her old friends. The poet Molza
lost everything in the great disaster, and barely escaped
with his life. Paolo Giovio was in like sad case, and
never recovered from the loss of his precious manuscripts.
He welcomed the coming of Cardinal Colonna, on May 10,
as that " of an angel from heaven." For at this crisis the
Lord Vespasiano, full of the deepest sympathy, had offered
most generous help, and had implored the Cardinal to
spare neither money nor influence in rescuing the hapless
victims of the barbarian soldiery, and to do his best to
put a stop to bloodshed and pillage. The Colonna prince
was indeed so full of pity and horror that he forgot his own
wrongs, and devoted himself to the rescue of the unfortu-
nate Pope. He took a leading part in the Conference held
at Orvieto for that purpose, and the Emperor, startled at
the overwhelming triumph of his arms and the reprobation
of the Christian world, was eager to make terms.
It was at this time that, in order to make some amends
for that ill-judged and deeply-regretted raid upon the
Pope, it occurred to Vespasiano Colonna to select the
young Signor Ippolito dei Medici, son of Giuliano, and
favourite nephew of Clement VII., as a possible husband for
his daughter and heiress Isabella. He had met the young
prince in Rome, and had been much attracted by him.
Now, also, the Sack ot Rome had been fatal to Ippolito's
prospect of being Lord of Florence, which had expelled
the Medici. However this scheme was first thought of*
it remained a fixed idea with the Lord Vespasiano until
his death.
7+
ITALIAN REFORMATION
This terrible Sack of Rome had, indeed, far-reaching
effects. The Gonzaga's friend, Signor Baldassare Cas-
tiglione, who had gone to Spain as the Pope's Nuncio,
was so horrified at this event, which came upon him like
a thunder-clap, that he never recovered the shock, and
died some months later of a broken heart. In the words
of the Emperor himself : " I tell you that one of the
finest gentlemen in the world is dead." In this sad story
I can but dwell upon that which touches the kinsmen and
friends of Giulia, who was indeed thankful to know that
her dear Lady Vittoria Colonna was safe in her beautiful
Island of Ischia, whither her brother Ascanio had taken
her before the troubles began.
Giulia had taken up her abode with Isabella in their
southern domain of Trajetto for the winter months,
when she heard from her brother Pirro, recently made
Cardinal and Bishop of Modena,* that Luigi Rodomonte
had been ill with the fever which raged in Rome, and had
scarcely recovered, when he was entrusted with the task
of conducting the Pope from Sant' Angelo to a place of
safety. Her brother arrived in the dead of night at the
gate of the Castello, on November 21, 1527, accompanied
by thirty horsemen and many arquebusiers ; and when
Pope Clement appeared, Luigi met him with the deepest
respect, and made him a present of a splendid horse
which he was induced to ride. Thus guided and pro-
tected, they left the city by the Porta del Popolo, crossed
over the Ponte Molle, and onward by Ronciglione and
Viterbo to Montefiascione, where he rested for a while,
and at length reached Orvieto in safety on December 8.
The delicate courtesy and devoted kindness of Luigi
* See letter of Giulia to Boccalini, written November 4, 1537, from
Trajetto.
75
A PRINCESS OF THE
Gonzaga made a great impression upon the Pope, and
was destined to have important results in the future.
The army of the League had attacked the Kingdom
of Naples by sea and land, so that it behoved all friends
of the Emperor to fight on his behalf. Giulia's husband,
the Lord Vespasiano Colonna, had taken part in this
campaign, and came home to her early in March, 1528,
stricken unto death. On the twelfth of the month he
made his will, in which he formally gave his consent to
the marriage of his daughter Isabella to the Signor
Ippolito dei Medici, nephew of the Pope, on condition
that any sons born should take the name of Colonna.
He appointed Giulia a dowry of 30,000 ducats, and the
ultimate inheritance of his realm, and property which he
left to her during her life and widowhood. . . .
Strengthened by the last rites of the Church, and full
of tender love and thoughtful kindness for his wife and
daughter, he passed away. With deep sorrow Giulia
grieved for the loss of a dear friend, a charming and
devoted companion, who had raised her on a pinnacle of
greatness and fulfilled her every desire. But in truth she
blamed herself that she could not mourn for her lord as
he deserved. It may be urged on her behalf that she was
still so young, not quite sixteen, but many a woman has
known love, and passion, and despair before that age. . . .
Henceforth she adopted for her emblem the flower of the
amaranth, with the motto " Non moritura."
As it befell, she had but little time for mourning, for
scarcely had the last solemn funeral ceremonies come to
an end, and the Lord Vespasiano Colonna been laid to rest
with his ancestors in the Church of St. Andreas, before all
the young widow's courage was needed to defend her home,
which was claimed by Colonna kinsmen and attacked
76
ITALIAN REFORMATION
by her foes the Orsini. The first to arrive was Sciarra
Colonna, who, although nominally an adherent of the
Pope, yet had a strong desire to obtain Pagliano for him-
self; and Ascanio also asserted his right as the nearest
male heir. Isabella and Giulia had retreated to the
Castello, which was well fortified and gallantly defended ;
so that before Sciarra had begun his attack, Napoleone
Orsini, the Abbate of Farfa, marched against Pagliano
with a strong force of men-at-arms, and took Sciarra
Colonna prisoner by surprise. Now, this Napoleone
Orsini was an enemy both of the Emperor and the Pope,
who, on hearing of the ladies' dangerous position, decided
to send them help. He had always declared that he owed
his life and safety to the courteous and gallant Luigi, and
in this moment of danger to his sister, he chose Luigi as
leader of the relieving force.
The Gonzaga captain gladly accepted the command,
and with splendid skill and valour came to the rescue ;
but it was only after hard fighting that he at length
defeated the Orsini, reconquered the lands, and rescued
Sciarra, who promptly saw the error of his ways. As for
Luigi Rodomonte, he was the hero of the hour, and it
was natural that Isabella Colonna should see in him
another Orlando, a Paladin of romance. Luigi was from
the first flattered and attracted by her evident admiration,
and he soon yielded to the charm of her fresh young girl-
hood, and became deeply devoted to her. Giulia felt it
her duty to remind Isabella that by her father's will, she
was destined to marry Signor Ippolito dei Medici, but she
indignantly rejoined :
" Can there be any question between him and your
brother ? Surely, if my father had lived he would have
decided that the hero who saved our lives and our
77
A PRINCESS OF THE
dominions had the greater claim upon my hand. And,
moreover, Giulia," she continued, with a mischievous
smile, " you must remember that when the Lord Ippolito
came here as my father's guest he had no eyes for anyone
but you, and that he talked poetry — Virgil, Ariosto, and
I know not what — with you the whole evening."
Giulia could have pointed out that some courtesy was
due to her as the hostess, but she did not contest the
matter, for she could not offend her sister-in-law by reply-
ing that she had no literary tastes whatever, and that it
would have been impossible for an accomplished scholar
to carry on a conversation with her. However, Luigi
loved Isabella as she was, with her merry laugh, her
talent for practical matters, and her skill in all games and
outdoor pursuits — riding, hunting, and hawking. Giulia
was quite ready to help him in every way with his suit,
and when their intimacy became a matter of talk and
remark, she advised Luigi that they should send for their
brother, Cardinal Pirro, and learn from him whether he
could obtain the Pope's consent to the marriage. Pirro
eagerly accepted the invitation, and his coming was a
great comfort to them all ; he brought most friendly
letters from the Pope, who expressed in general terms his
confidence in Luigi and affection for him. He was also
the bearer of information which gave great satisfaction to
Giulia. The Signor Ippolito, who was an intimate friend
of his, had assured him that nothing would induce him to
carry out the project of marriage with Isabella Colonna,
as " he had set his devotion upon a noble lady of surpass-
ing beauty and talent, who so far excelled all other as the
sun's clear rays surpass those of the twinkling stars."
Luigi was already in no doubt as to the young Prince's
feeling towards Isabella ; had it been otherwise, he was
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
far too generous and loyal-hearted to steal away the girl's
love. Thus it became only a question of policy, and the
two young lovers agreed to be content for the present
with a solemn engagement and marriage contract- This
proved to be of so much importance that I will copy the
exact words :
" I, Isabella Colonna, declare, confess, and swear by
the Omnipotent God that I have taken for my legitimate
spouse the Illus. Sig. Luigi de Gonzaga ; and thus I have
given my vow to take no other husband while his Lord-
ship lives, as Holy Mother Church commands. And this
I have done and promised in my Palace of Pagliano, in
the Salvarobba, espousing his Lordship with the ring. In
the presence of witnesses ... on this sixteenth day of
April, 1528.
" I, Isabella Colonna, with my own hand.
" I, Francesco Boccalini, of Mantua.
" I, Paris Biondi, of Mantua.
" I, Giachetto Favisino, of Alessandria."
It is doubtful how far the Pope knew of this secret
agreement ; but when Cardinal Pirro returned to him at
Orvieto, he lost no opportunity of keeping His Holiness
in friendly disposition towards Luigi. Both Jacopo
Salviati and Fabio Petrucci wrote him the most encour-
aging letters at this time, and also sent him orders from
the Pope to defend Pagliano against Sciarra Colonna,
who was collecting troops to attack the citadel. This
was a task after his own heart, satisfying at once his love
and his duty; but obedience was more trying when he
heard from Fabio Petrucci that he was "to waste no
more time at Pagliano, but was wanted for active service
79
A PRINCESS OF THE
elsewhere." With such a command no delay was possible,
but it was a sad parting for them all ; the future was
uncertain, if not threatening, and the two young girls
felt helpless and unprotected, although the Pope had been
persuaded to send a company of 800 foot-soldiers, unde r
Girolamo Matteo, to protect the Colonna dominions.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER VII
1529-1532
Luigi Rodomonte wounded at Viterbo— Death of Giulia's mother,
Francesca Fieschi Gonzaga — Death of Giulia's brother, Cardinal
Pirro Gonzaga — Her father takes orders, and is known as the
"Abate" Lodovico — Luigi attends the coronation of the
Emperor Charles V. at Bologna — Marriage of Luigi Rodomonte
and Isabella Colonna — Birth of Vespasiano Colonna — Death of
Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga, wounded at Vicovaro — His will.
Luigi Rodomonte, having fortified Pagliano to the best
of his ability, appears to have been engaged in a skirmish
at Viterbo, where he was taken ill with inflammation and
fever in consequence of a neglected wound. The friends
who were with him, amongst whom was the Cardinal
Ippolito dei Medici, sent at once to Rome for the famous
surgeon, Messer Tommaso Cademosto, but unfortunately
he was unable to obey the summons, as he was in close
attendance upon a great lord.* However, he sent full
directions for the treatment of the sick man, who soon
made progress towards recovery. Some weeks later we
find that Luigi was able to travel as far as Fontanellato,
a place in Lombardy, to the north-west of Parma, on the
way towards the little village of Soragna, where he was
tenderly cared for by his sister Paola, the wife of Galeazzo
Sanvitale. He had scarcely recovered before he went to
* Letter of Cademosto, from Rome, on August 19, 1529.
81 6
A PRINCESS OF THE
the help of a kinsman, Uberto Pallavicini, Marchese di
Gibello, who was attacked by Lodovico Rangone, and
there followed a hopeless tangle of conflicting interests,
rendered more deadly by being amongst kinsmen and
neighbours. In this petty warfare Luigi could gain neither
honour nor reputation.
At the beginning of the next year (1530) Giulia had the
misfortune to lose her mother, and soon afterwards her
second brother, the Cardinal Pirro Gonzaga, who returned
to his home at Sabbioneta, only to die there, struck down
in his splendid and promising youth. He passed away on
January 28 of that fatal winter, and Giulia's heart yearned
for home, with the solace of her own people. But dis-
turbing events made this impossible. When it had become
known that Ippolito dei Medici was made a Cardinal, and
thus renounced his claim to the hand of Isabella, the
Colonna family loudly clamoured that she must take a
husband from amongst her own kinsmen, lest her vast
inheritance should go to some alien house. They even
sent an appeal to the Emperor to enforce this. But
meanwhile strange events took place.
Lodovico Gonzaga, Giulia's father, in his first grief for
the loss of his wife, had taken priestly orders, and was
already known as the Abate Lodovico. On the death of
the young Cardinal Pirro, it seemed to him natural that
he should claim all the benefices held by his son — the
Abbey of Acquanegra, the living of Sospiro, and others —
for at that moment Clement VII. was believed to be
dying. But the Pope, who had in fact cheated Death
of his prey and was rapidly recovering, lost no time in
bestowing all the endowments of Pirro upon the Cardinal
Ippolito.
The sad tale of mortality in the Gonzaga family was
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not yet complete. A few months later, in March, 1529,
Giulia's uncle, the elder Pirro Gonzaga, passed away at
Gazzuolo. He was the beloved youngest son of Madonna
Antonia, and his loss was a terrible blow to her, who had
already suffered so much. He had, unfortunately, taken
part against the Emperor, who confiscated his estates and
bestowed them upon Luigi Rodomonte. But this young
prince, the very soul of generosity, at once declared that
he simply held them as a sacred charge for the sons of
Pirro, to whom he proved a most watchful and devoted
guardian when their mother, Emilia Bentivoglio, was
taken from them before the end of the year. Carlo, the
eldest son, was a special favourite of Luigi, whom he
strongly resembled in many ways. A splendid youth, of
magnificent stature and strength, he, like Rodomonte, was
without a rival in every game ; and wonderful tales are
told of his childish prowess — as when he parted two fierce
sheep-dogs who were fighting, grasping them by the jaws,
and tearing them asunder by force. As Tasso has said
of these two cousins : " In our days, like unto the early
Heroes, were Luigi and Carlo Gonzaga."*
Besides Carlo, his brother Federico, and his two
charming little sisters Isabella and Lucrezia, were under
the special care and guardianship of their cousin Luigi.
He had taken advantage of a new league between the
Emperor and the Pope, to make his peace with this latter,
* In his Sonnet cxxxvii. Tasso says :
" Luigi, e Carlo, incontro il ciel le fronti
Ben potevate alzar, qual Capaneo,
Che 1' alte mura scosse, onde cadeo
Quandi i f ulmini di Giove ebbe si
E potevate monti imporre a monti
D' Encelado non meno, e di Tifeo ; . . ."
(" Works of Tasso," printed in folio in Florence, vol. ii., p. 428.)
83
A PRINCESS OF THE
and to persuade His Holiness to forgive the Pallavicini
who had taken arms against him.
The next great event was the coming of Charles V. to
Italy for his long-deferred coronation. He landed, on
August 12, 1529, at Genoa, where Luigi met him, and
was received with great favour, being in his company as
far as Piacenza, with Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici, his
cousin Alessandro, and many other great nobles. Mean-
while great preparations were being made at Bologna,
which had been chosen for the important ceremony, and
Luigi returned to his new home at Rivarolo.
In the midst of all his arduous warfare and many
engrossing duties, Luigi found leisure to show his devo-
tion to the Muses. At this very time, a letter was written
to him by the learned Ambrogio Fiandino, in which he
hails him as a Mecasnas, and professes the greatest admira-
tion for a sonnet of Rodomonte, composed in honour of
Giovanni delle Bande Nere. Fiandino also sends to his
patron an edition of Phaedrus, which he has recently
annotated. But the most delightful and valuable of
Luigi's poetical works was the sonnet which he sent to
Isabella, his beloved and true wife, a little later, when she
was persecuted on every side by suitors.*
In this he tenderly comforts and applauds her, com-
paring her life to a voyage in a tempest-tossed barque,
which, beset by storms, will reach a beautiful shore and a
safe haven in due time. He compares her to Ippodamia
(or Briseis) who, taken prisoner by Achilles, becomes his
bride, as in the days when he himself took Pagliano by force
of arms and wedded his dear lady. Then he exhorts her to
continue in her constancy and to imitate Penelope, who,
* Appendix, note 2, Sonnet VII. (The marriage of Luigi and
Isabella was still a secret.)
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surrounded by many suitors, never gave up her hope of
Ulysses' return, and undid at night the web which she
had spun by day.
Isabella Colonna was greatly pleased and flattered by
this charming homage ; she was quite willing to look upon
herself as another Penelope. In truth, this encourage-
ment came at a fortunate moment, when a fresh suitor
had appeared for her hand, more formidable than all the
others. This was Ferrante Gonzaga, the son of Isabella
Marchesa of Mantua ; he had left the army before
Florence — where he and Luigi were in command under
the Prince of Orange — and had gone to Bologna to make
a direct appeal for the hand of the heiress to the Emperor,
who received him favourably. This news soon reached
Luigi, who at once sent his brother Cagnino* with the
authentic documents of his marriage contract, which he
was immediately to make known to all the great people
assembled at Bologna. A sharp contest ensued, for Don
Ferrante disputed the legality of the marriage, and the
case had to be tried before the Emperor and the Pope.
Luigi himself obtained, permission to leave his company,
and hastened to Bologna, where he was present at the
splendid ceremony of the solemn coronation of Charles V.
on February 24, 1530. This day had been chosen as
the Emperor's birthday and the day of the victory at
Pavia. By all accounts it must have been a magnificent
pageant.
The ancient city was gaily decorated with triumphal
arches and garlands of flowers, laurel, and myrtle, while
the windows were hung with tapestry and brocades. The
streets were guarded by soldiers, amongst whom the
Burgundian companies were resplendent in white armour
* Gianfrancesco Gonzaga.
85
A PRINCESS OF THE
over velvet doublets of red, green, and yellow. The
procession from the Palazzo to the Church of San
Petronio was led by the rector and doctors of the
famous University in their purple robes, fur collars, and
gold chains, followed by all the Bishops in violet copes
and mitres ; then came the Cardinals in scarlet silk and
lace, in attendance on the Pope, who was carried in his
golden chair of state by his guard in red liveries.
The coming of the Emperor was proclaimed by a
resounding flourish of trumpets, and he was preceded by
heralds from all parts of his world-wide dominions on
which the sun never sets, and from all other countries.
The orb of the world, the regal sceptre, the sword of
state, and the Imperial crown on a golden cushion, were
borne before His Majesty by dukes and princes in
gorgeous array; and he himself followed, wearing his
stately robes of empire and a flowing mantle of gold
brocade, while on his head was the iron crown of Lom-
bardy. As for the ceremony itself, it was impressive
beyond all words, as the young Emperor was solemnly
invested by the Pope with the Imperial insignia. He
then kissed the feet of His Holiness, and a mighty shout
rent the air as the heralds proclaimed him " Emperor of
the Romans and lord of the whole world." Trumpets,
bells, and guns announced the completion of the great
event to the waiting crowds, and the whole city rang
with acclamations — " Evviva Carlo Cesare, Imperator
Gloriossissimo !"
When all the ensuing festivities were at an end, the
Emperor went on to Mantua, where he had promised to
bestow the title of Duke on Federico Gonzaga, the son
of Madonna Isabella. By his special request Luigi
accompanied him, and he wrote to Isabella that " on the
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
25th day of March, when he entered the city, he wore a
sopraveste of azure blue satin, made in squares of
alternate colours, one showing a Scorpion embroidered,
and the other an inscription : ' qui vivens l^edit morte
medetur.' " It was supposed to be the property of the
scorpion to heal the poison, when it is killed and placed
upon the wound. He wished it to be understood that he
would kill anyone who offended him,* a defiance of those
who would dispute his marriage.
It was very soon after this that, by command of the
Pope, and at the instance of Don Ferrante, Isabella
Colonna was summoned to a formal examination at
Civita-Castellana,t in the presence of Giambatista Mente-
buona and Don Diego de Sota. She was most closely
questioned, but remained constant in her declaration that
she would have no other husband than Luigi. All the
particulars were taken down, written in the Spanish
language, and signed on March 28, 1530 ; but Isabella
was left to return home in suspense. Cardinal Ippolito
sent a kind letter by his secretary, Claudio Tolomei, to
Luigi, promising all the help he could give, t Meantime
Don Ferrante had evidently given up all hope of press-
ing his own suit, for we hear later that he had found
another heiress, Isabella of Capua, daughter of the Duke
of Termoli, whom he married secretly.
Luigi had returned to his duties in the camp before
Florence, and it was here that he found time to write that
* Paolo Giovio thought this a little bombastic, but quite pardon-
able, considering all the circumstances (" Dell' Imprese Militari,"
p. 122).
f A hill-town near Borghetto and Monte Soracte, about forty miles
from Rome.
4 Letter of Claudio Tolomei, lib. vi., carte 225.
87
A PRINCESS OF THE
beautiful poem in sixteen stanzas, " In Praise of his Lady,"
which was so much admired throughout all Italy. In a
beautiful allegory, the poet describes himself as a weary
pilgrim wandering in the dark and lonely forest by night,
and hopelessly lost until a bright distant star appears to
him and guides him on his way. " Ma bella Stella," on
whom his life depends, and who awakens in his soul so
many beautiful thoughts, is the emblem under which he
pays all homage to his Isabella. What maiden would not
find it in her heart to envy such devotion, expressed with
so much beauty and harmony ?
It was not until the early days of the year 1531 that at
length the marriage of Luigi and Isabella was made abso-
lutely secure and placed beyond all doubt, by the signature
of both the Emperor and the Pope in token of its validity.
Luigi was then duly proclaimed Duke of Trajetto and
Count of Fondi, and it was a strange irony of fate which
made Giulia a dowager-duchess at the age of eighteen.
Now that the desire of her heart was attained in the
successful issue of her brother's marriage, she felt free to
carry out her long-deferred visit to the dear home of her
childhood, for she could now be spared for a while by the
married lovers at Pagliano.
Notwithstanding all the sad changes which had taken
place amongst her own people, it was a great joy to find
herself once more with her beloved grandmother, Madonna
Antonia, to whom the years had been most kind ; for now
at the age of ninety, she was but little changed since the
child Giulia left her, and she welcomed her beloved
granddaughter with the same keen interest and loving
sympathy. She was living at Gazzuolo, where she had so
often stayed with her youngest son Pirro, and after his
lamented death she had adopted his little daughters.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
The charming Lucrezia, not quite nine years old, must
have vividly recalled to Giulia all the bright freshness and
eager tastes of her own happy childhood. Her education
was being carried out under the watchful care of Madonna
Antonia, and Giulia had the pleasure of meeting an old
friend, Messer Matteo Bandello, established in the house-
hold as tutor in Latin, eloquence, and philosophy. This
pleasing writer was at that time engaged in preparing
some of his novelle for the printing-press. This is a
copy of the letter, in which he dedicated one of his elegant
stories to his young pupil Lucrezia.* It is too long to
quote in full, but the following is a summary :
" To the Most Illustrious Signora, Lucrezia Gonzaga,
of Gazzuolo.
" Salutation. . . .
" Being moved to set down these tales of ancients days,
. . . once when I was with Madama Isabella of Mantua,
sister of your grandmother, t she commanded me to take
up Livy and read to her the story of Tarquin and
Lucrezia with her death ; which, to obey her, I did, for
she, Lucrezia Bentivoglio (as you know), is well acquainted
with Roman history. When I had read it . . . the subject
was discussed . . . M. Capilupi gave great praise to
Lucrezia, but M. Equicola said that she was mad to kill
herself. They were still disputing, when the noble and
learned cavalier, Count Baldassare Castiglione arrived, to
whom Madama told what I had read, and the subject of
their discussion. . . . She thought I would go to the
* Part II., No. XXL, Novelle di Matteo Bandello.
t This was Isabella d' Este's half-sister, Lucrezia Bentivoglio,
whose daughter Emilia married Pirro Gonzaga, the father of little
Lucrezia. See Genealogy, No. 2.
89
A PRINCESS OF THE
Sacristy and point out what St. Augustine had said on the
subject in his learned book of ' The City of God,' but
as Castiglione had come, she prayed him to give his
opinion. . . ."
In short, he was persuaded to tell the story, adding
descriptive and light touches, and deciding in favour of
Lucrezia's deed. Bandello assures us that he has simply
written down what the eloquent and learned Castiglione
said. Then he adds that he has also composed " stanzas "
in praise of his pupil Lucrezia, but if they are never
published, at least she will be made immortal by the
dedication to her of this novella.
It added much to the pleasure of Giulia's visit to meet
Messer Bandello and to have long talks with him about
their family, to whom he was devoted, especially her
uncle Pirro and her brother Luigi, to both of whom he
has dedicated some of his novelle* — the highest com-
pliment he can pay, for in all this changing world he
had the assured confidence that his works would live for
ever.
It was a disappointment to Giulia that she saw but
little of her father, who remained at Sabbioneta. Since
he entered the profession of the Church so late in life, he
had become the most priestly of priests, and in his devo-
tion to his sacred office he seemed almost to have forgotten
that he ever had the cares of a family. Still, as the Abate
Lodovico he retained his pride in the house of Gonzaga,
and was ever a faithful and true friend.
Summoned home by an urgent request from her brother,
Giulia returned at once by the shortest route to Pagliano,
deferring until some future time her hoped-for visit to
* Novelle, Bandello.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Madonna Ren6e of France, now Duchess of Ferrara,
who had expressed an earnest wish to make her acquaint-
ance. In that beautiful April weather they were able to
ride for many hours in the day, taking only a noontide
rest ; they were all well mounted, and Giulia had a strong
escort, on account of the disturbed state of the country ;
on this her brother Luigi had insisted, with the jesting
remark that " she would need armed protection in passing
through the dominions of so many of her suitors, lest they
should kidnap her."*
However, the journey was safely accomplished, and
Giulia was warmly welcomed by Isabella and Luigi, who,
to obey the Pope's summons, had already made his pre-
parations for departure, and shortly set forth, having first
tenderly committed his wife to his sister's loving care.
At the last moment of farewell, while his horsemen waited
in the courtyard, Isabella presented him with a wonderful
golden ring, on which two eyes were carved by a master-
hand ; and this mystic design was so much admired that
various epigrams were later composed in its honour by
three well-known poets — six in Latin by Angelo Colocci,t
seven in Italian by Molza,! and one by Aonio Paleario.§
It was during this summer of 1531 that Giulia and
Isabella took up their abode at Fondi, their favourite
home henceforth — a Colonna dominion, beautifully situated
on the Appian Way, half-way between Rome and Naples.
They had but rare news of Luigi, who had been sent on
outpost duty by the Pope, and had found much trouble in
* In that year, 1531, Giulia was only eighteen, in the prime of her
youth and that marvellous beauty famous throughout Europe.
+ " Poesie, Italiane e Latine di Monsignor Angelo Colocci."
+ "Opera del Molza," t. iii., p. 316.
§ " Aonii Palearii Opera," p. 711.
9i
A PRINCESS OF THE
quelling the petty quarrels amongst his captains after their
brief period of idleness.
Meantime, Isabella was in delicate health ; but at length
the long months of waiting and anxiety came to an end,
and on December 6, 1531, a son was born to her, who
received the name of Vespasiano Colonna, after his grand-
father. The baptism of his heir was a splendid function
for Luigi Rodomonte, and one of the sponsors was his
sister Giulia, who was destined to play so important a
part in the child's future life.
But the ladies did not long enjoy the presence of Luigi,
who, before the end of December, was sent by the Pope on
an embassy to the Court of Charles V. in connection with
the proposed war against the Turks.
". . . . all' alta impresa
Italia, Francia e la Romana Chiesa."
Unfortunately, this great enterprise came to nothing, as
these States only sought their own interests. In April
Luigi had returned to Italy, and wrote home from Rivalta,
near Mantua, where his cousin Carlo had joined him. He
was next heard of at Ferrara, where he had stayed on his
journey to Rome, and had a few days of delightful con-
verse with that excellent poet, Messer Ariosto, who was
preparing his great poem, " Orlando Furioso," for the
printing. Luigi was specially charmed with Canto XXVI.,
in which Malagigi explains the prophetic figures carved on
the tomb of Merlin, and points out the symbols of the
most distinguished nobles of the coming time. Amongst
these, the highest praise is given to Luigi Rodomonte, as
warrior and poet, in the lines :
" Luigi da Gazolo il ferro caldo
Fatto nel collo gli ha d' una ferita,
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Che con 1' arco gli die Febo, quand' anco
Marte la spada sua gli raise al fianco."
But this was not all, for in Canto XXXVII. he pays the
most charming homage to the splendid valour, the rare
gifts, the fidelity in love, of Luigi, whose " fame rings
through Parnassus." Isabella, his wife, also comes in for
her share of warm appreciation, and Luigi was so full of
gratitude and heartfelt admiration that he took up his pen
and wrote that famous poem in praise of the great Ariosto,
which has since been printed as an introduction to the
"Orlando Furioso."* In this he protests, with true
humility, that as yet he has done no deeds worthy of
such praise, and looks forwafd to better times :
" Servare queste rime, e questo onore
A miglior tempo : or troppo il merto eccede,
Che d' uopo sia, chio troppo in alto saglia,
Se debbo far, che un vostro verso vaglia."
He hopes there will soon be an opportunity for a glorious
death or a splendid triumph over the proud Turk, for he
trusts that he will be placed in command of a company to
fight against the fierce infidel.
In August he was sent with a body of 400 Papal
infantry to enlarge and strengthen the fortifications of
Ancona, which was looked upon as the strongest outpost
of Christendom against the Turks.f Luigi was to see
that the walls of the city were made good at all points,
and that strong bastions were built to make the place
impregnable. The citizens had rendered willing help, but
they were unpleasantly surprised on September 20 by the
* There is a fine edition with this poem, bound in vellum, at
Parma, in possession of the Conte Garimbecti.
t " Notizie Istoriche della Citta d' Ancona," Saracini, bk. xi.,
P- 338-
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A PRINCESS OF THE
coming of a hostile army under the command of Monsignor
Bernadino dalla Barba, also by command of the Pope,
who, with his usual crooked policy, now proposed to take
possession of Ancona for himself. Rodomonte was quite
unprepared for this act of duplicity, as the last letter he
had received from the Papal Secretary had only given
orders to prepare for defence of the city against the Turks,
who were said to have already advanced as far as Gallipoli
with 150 ships.*
Taken thus by surprise, Luigi had no choice but to
obey the fresh orders of His Holiness ; and he went with
the Governor to meet the elders of the city, and had the
painful task of proving to them that resistance was use-
less, while he could only seek to soften the blow by
persuading them that their city would be safer under
the Pope's protection. Thus was Ancona added to the
dominions of the Church, and Monsignor dalla Barba left
there as Governor.
It was on a stormy December day that a courier arrived
at the palace with news that the Lord Luigi Gonzaga, in
the moment of victory, when he was entering the con-
quered city of Vicovaro, had been wounded by an arquebus
in the left shoulder, and was in serious danger. Then,
coming quickly on the heels of the first, who had been
delayed on the way, another messenger arrived with the
fatal tidings that all was over. How terrible in their cruel
simplicity were those words, which rang like the trump
of doom ! — " Our great Captain, the Most Noble Lord
Gonzaga, was borne to the Palazzo Pubblico of the city,
and there, having dictated his last testament and taken
farewell of his friends, he died of his wounds, fortified by
* See Letter of Gio. Battisto Sango to Luigi Gonzaga (" Lettere
di Principi," vol. i.).
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
the sacred rites of Holy Church, on the third day of
December of this year of grace, 1532."
Giulia had to weep not only for her own irreparable
loss, but for the ruined hopes of her father Lodovico, and
this last bereavement of her beloved Madonna Antonia, to
whom her gallant grandson Luigi was as the apple of her
eye.
The dead warrior was borne to Fondi, where the funeral
procession passed through the streets and reached the
Cathedral porch, with banners of conquered foes trailing
in the dust and all the pomp of stately woe. Giulia knelt
by the side of Isabella, her widowed sister-in-law, during
the last sad rites, and together they rode to the Palazzo,
where the loving sister heard from the lips of Isabella the
whole sad story, as she clasped the orphan babe Vespasiano
in her arms. More fortunate than Luigi's sister, his wife
had been near enough to be summoned at the first alarm
of danger, and hers was the rare privilege of being with
their hero to the last. In death, as in life, he thought
only of others, and his sole anxiety was for the happiness
of those he left behind. Most pathetic was the earnest
care which he had devoted to his will, in the framing of
which he overcame the agonizing pain of his wound and
forgot himself with heroic valour, to think only of the
welfare of those who depended upon him. By a supreme
effort he recalled all who had shown him loving service,
leaving special bequests to all his captains, his humble
friends, and his servants, mentioning them all by name,
and taking into account their deserts and their need. In
the codicil, with touching affection, he warmly recom-
mended Isabella to the love of his sister, and Giulia to
hers. His widow was to be guardian to the Illustrissimo
Signor Vespasiano, his infant son, unless she married
95
A PRINCESS OF THE
again, in which case his father the Signor Abate Lodovico
was to have sole charge of the boy his heir.
" Thus, on the third day of December of the year 1532,
was my beloved brother Luigi Gonzaga, detto (called)
Rodomonte, taken, at the age of thirty-three." Words can
tell but a small part of the honour and reverence, the
devotion and love, in which he was held by all men.
Amongst the many who have made the world resound
with his praise, we have the loving testimony borne by his
friend Matteo Bandello in the introduction to one of his
novelle (the story of Philip of Burgundy),* and those
beautiful lines of the poet Torquato Tasso, in which he
speaks of Luigi as " the great glory of Italy, the terror to
the foe . . ." " he of the strong heart and the wise counsel
. . . who feared no danger and welcomed a noble death."
Marco Guazzo joins in his praise : " Con grandissimo
duolo di tutti gli nomini segnalati, e di tutti gli uomini
quai alia virtu sono amici 1' alma al suo fattore divotissima-
mente rese . . ."t
* Novella, xxxix.
t " Istorie di Marco Guazzo," fogl. 104.
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CHAPTER VIII
I532-I533-
Description of Fondi, where Giulia Gonzaga Colonna held her Court
— Unique literary and artistic centre — The friendship with
Vittoria Colonna — Poets and historians unite in praise of Giulia
— Quotations from Ariosto, Tasso, Flaminio, Molza, and others —
A "Golden Age" — Her portrait painted by Sebastiano del
Piombo — The friendship of Giulia with Ippolito dei Medici —
The story of his life — He is made Cardinal — He is present at
the marriage of Catherine dei Medici with the son of Francois I.
The picturesque medieval city of Fondi is so intimately
connected with the history of Giulia Gonzaga during the
most flamboyant years of her life that we cannot pass on
without a brief description. It was in the summer of 1531
that the young Countess made her home in this ancient
city, so beautifully situated in the fertile Terra di Lavoro,
at the foot of the forest-clad Monte Passignano, and near
enough to the sea to enjoy its life-giving breezes. The
whole neighbourhood is rich in classical memories, which
centre in this "Fundi" of the Romans, placed on the
Appian Way, and guarded by its massive cyclopean walls.
Here was born the Empress Galleria, wife of Vitellius,
and the famous Vitruvius, whose fountain stands beyond
the Eastern Gate. The site of the Villa of Varro is
pointed out on a rising hill near by, and Horace once
97 7
A PRINCESS OF THE
jested about the Praetor.* The family of Livia, the wife
of Augustus, came from here ; the Emperor Galba was
born in the neighbourhood ; and the low, hilly tract be-
tween Fondi and the sea at Sperlonga was the Ccecubus
ager, one of the most celebrated wine districts of the
Romans. These are but a few of the earlier legends,
which are not only of classic fame. The old Cathedral
is said to date from soon after the journey of St. Paul
from Pozzuoli to Rome, when he rested here. St. Thomas
Aquinas taught theology in the Dominican Convent, where
his cell is untouched, and in the garden still flourishes
the orange-tree believed to have been planted by him.
This ancient Church of San Pietro, built on the site 01
a temple to Jupiter by Nicolo di Roma in 1180, glories in
a marvellous pulpit of mosaic, with columns supported on
the backs of two lions and two rams, and with four eagles
on the capitals above. There were other interesting
churches — San Bartolommeo and San Nicolo Pellegrino —
and convents, of which the most noted was the Olivetan
Monastery of San Magno, outside the walls, built by
Prospero Colonna.
Situated half-way between Rome and Naples, fourteen
miles from the port of Terracina, and about two miles
from the coast at Sperlonga, Fondi was most convenient
of access, and was greatly beloved by Giulia, not only for
its legends, its ancient story, and its beautiful surround-
ings, but, above all, that it was her own domain, and there
she dwelt in the midst of her subjects. After a most
eventful history, the State had been bestowed by Ferdinand
* " Fundus, Aufidio Lusco prastore libenter
Linquimus, insani ridentes praemia scribae,
Praetextam, et latum clavum, prunasque batillum."
Sat. I., v. 34.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
of Spain, in 1504, with the title of Count of Fondi, upon
Prospero Colonna, the father of Vespasiano, who had left
it to his young widow. Here it was that during the next
few years Giulia held her splendid Court, so famous in
the history of the Renaissance. The presence of this
beautiful and cultured lady made it an almost unique
literary and artistic centre. Many came hither with the
sole intention of paying homage to the Countess herself ;
others who were travelling from Rome to Naples, or
onwards to Calabria, rested on the way to make her
acquaintance and enjoy the gracious hospitality of her
palace. All were courteously received and introduced to
the presence of the great lady by her secretary, Gandolfo
Porrino, a native of Modena, who had himself no small
fame as a man of letters.
Amongst her most interesting visitors was the Marchesa
di Pescara, Vittoria Colonna, who in later years had so
much in common with Giulia in religious matters. A
charming letter has been preserved in which Vittoria
writes to recall with delight her first visit to Fondi, and
the marvellous courtesy which she met with from her
illustrious and beloved Signora, whose affection and kind-
ness were beyond all praise. This was written at Viterbo
on December 8 (probably of 1546), just before Giulia's
visit to Lombardy : " It will be well for my Signora to
visit her native land — she who is so well informed con-
cerning her heavenly country." Then she is grateful to
Giulia for sending her the ' Exposition concerning St.
Paul ' (by Vald^s), which she much desired and so greatly
needs, and for which she thanks the Signora again and
again when she receives it.
There is also a letter from Juan Vald6s himself,
written [on September 18, 1535, to the Cardinal Ercole
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A PRrNCESS OF THE
Gonzaga, in which he says : " I remained one day in
Fondi with that Signora, of whom I can but say that it
is a great pity that she should not be queen of all the
world, although I believe that God has thus provided, in
order that we poor creatures should enjoy her divine
conversation and courtesy, which is not inferior to her
beauty."
But these allusions point to the more serious side of
the brilliant company which gathered around and sought
to honour her in every way with their concert of praise
and admiration. We find the poets Bernardo Tasso,
Marcantonio Flaminio, Francesco Maria Molza, Francesco
Berni, Gandolfo Porrino, Claudio Tolomei, and many
others, writing odes, sonnets, and long poems to the glory
of this surpassing lady ; while others, like the Bishop
Vittorio Soranzo, Francesco Berni, Paolo Giovio (who
stayed at Fondi on his way to Urbino), Matteo Bandello
(the novelist), Falco, Signora Margherita Pelletta (who
also wrote madrigals), and Ippolito dei Medici, pour out
their adulation in prose. Besides these, we have the
testimony of Ariosto :
" Behold her whose fame to-day spreads throughout the
world . . . for her unsurpassed grace and beauty, Giulia
Gonzaga, who, wherever her feet may tread, and whatever
her serene eyes may behold . . . yields to none other in
loveliness, but, as though she descended from heaven, is
proclaimed with rapture as a goddess !"*
In his " Bellezze del Furioso di L' Ariosto," Orazio
Toscanella is no less enthusiastic. " If it may appear to
some that this praise of Ariosto is too hyperbolical, I
would point out how the Magnifico M. Antonio Magno
declares that in all his travels, and amongst all the most
* " Orlando Furioso," Canto LXVI.
ioo
ITALIAN REFORMATION
beautiful ladies in the world whom he has seen in Italy,
in France, in Germany, and in Spain, indeed he affirms
and vows that he has never beheld any one who could
approach Giulia in beauty and grace. . . ."*
And Messer Giovanni Betussi, in his edition of Boc-
caccio's " Donne Illustre," says that " the fame of Giulia's
divine beauty was like unto that of Helen in the days of
Greece. She was a paragon of such infinite loveliness
. . . that neither picture nor words could ever reproduce
the vivacity of her eyes, her charming speech, the nobility
of her heart, nor the greatness of her soul ; these and all
other qualities being combined in Her."t
Falco, in his dedication of the " Rimario," speaks in
stronger language, dazzled by his lady's divine and mar-
vellous beauty, but still more by her wisdom, her accom-
plishments and her infinite courtesy. Matteo Bandello,
the delightful writer of novelle, cannot say enough in her
praise himself, but is greatly impressed by the passionate
admiration of another lady, Margherita Pelletta, whose
madrigals set the Countess Giulia upon a pinnacle of
charm, and beauty, and virtue, above all women in her
own age or any other.
This is only a very brief selection from the literature of
the day, which we cannot close without a quotation from
Tasso, who has a whole chapter in praise and admiration
of Giulia Gonzaga.f He sings of "her fair curly hair,
lightly waving in wandering curls . . . above the high
serene forehead . . . the two clear and luminous windows
which open beneath the dark and tranquil eyebrows, and in
* Libro di M. Giovanni Boccaccio delle Donne Illustre, ecc. In
Vinegia MDLVIII.
t Bandello, Novelle, Parte iii. a , p. 61. Lucca : Busdrago. 1554.
J For Tasso's poem in Italian, see Appendix, note 3.
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this dark terrestrial prison can discern the marvels of God
. . . the mouth which surpasses rubies and pearls in colour
and beauty . . . the delicate neck white as snow. . . ."
Then rising to a higher strain of fancy, Tasso exclaims :
" As her feet pass over the grass, flowers spring up, and
those who see her declare that she is of Spring the sister or
the daughter " (reminding us of Botticelli's Primavera).
" Blessed spirits rejoice in her radiance . . . and he
who listens to her angelic voice will hear no such divine
words amongst other mortals. . . ." " The glorious name
of Giulia will live so long as the sun spreads forth
his golden rays." I will end this chorus of praise with
the words of Porrino : " Her gentle ways and her smiles
revealed a garden of roses and violets — a terrestrial and
celestial paradise. . . . That was indeed the true Golden
Age . . . and happy were they of Fondi and Trajetto !"
After the lapse of centuries, even such eloquent testi-
mony as this may leave us a little unconvinced as to the
lady's surpassing beauty — like to another Helen of Troy.
But at least we cannot doubt that beyond the cold
perfection of a classic statue, our Countess of Fondi
possessed the elusive gift of charm. The tender sympathy,
the keen insight, the quick responsive glance, the delicate
courtesy, and natural unconscious grace, so well expressed
in the " Cortegiano " as sprezzatura — all these were hers in
a supreme degree.
But amongst the throng of votaries who laid their
homage at the feet of Giulia, there was one who was far
more welcome than all the others. This was Ippolito dei
Medici, the nephew of Pope Clement VII., whom we
have*already heard of as a suggested suitor for Isabella
Colonna, the daughter of Vespasiano. This young prince
is so intimately associated with Giulia Gonzaga, that her
ITALIAN REFORMATION
story would be incomplete without his. He was the son
of Giuliano dei Medici and a noble lady of Urbino, born
about 1510. He was taken to Rome at the age of three,
when Pope Leo X., another uncle, was so delighted with
his beauty and spirit, that he commissioned Raphael to
paint the child playing at his feet, on the wall of a sala
in the Vatican palace. When Ippolito lost his father, on
March 17, 1516, the Medici family appear to have warmly
adopted him and educated him with the greatest care, " not
only in Letters, but as the son of a prince, in riding, the use
of arms, and the art of music for which he showed great
facility, learning to play upon various instruments and
accompanying them with a charming voice, being dowered
by Fortune with supernatural talent so that he was the
admiration of all his teachers."
Concerning his musical talent, Giovio writes thus :
" He became a delightful performer on the lute, greatly
skilled with the violin, excellent on the flute, and un-
equalled with the cornet ; he had an excellent touch for
the monocord ... in fact, there was no instrument from
whence he could not bring forth delicious harmony and
touch the hearts of his hearers, whether the music were
joyful and pleasing, or whether it were sad and terrible."*
He was equally successful in his other studies, becom-
ing a very good classical scholar, while his Italian poetry
rivalled that of any writer of his day.
At the age of fourteen, Ippolito and his cousin Ales-
sandro were sent by Clement VII. to Florence, in order
that under the guidance of Cardinal Passerini they might
govern the city. Then it was that Ippolito began to show
his lofty and ambitious character, for he wished to appeal
to the imagination of his compatriots as the successor of
* Paolo Giovio.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
the great Lorenzo, and to bear the title of II Magnified.
He only remained three years at Florence, and after
the revolution of 1527, retired for a time to Lucca, where
he eagerly pursued his studies until he was recalled to
Rome the following year by Clement VII., who was
devotedly attached to him. It was now the Pope's
ambition to arrange some great marriage for this youth of
eighteen, and, after various higher flights, he at last
entered into negotiations with his former foe, Vespasiano
Colonna, for the hand of his daughter Isabella. Mean-
while, Ippolito himself held aloof from all these projects ;
he had so many delightful pursuits, and life was alto-
gether so splendid and interesting to him, that he had no
wish for any change which marriage might bring. It has
been suggested by some of his biographers that he had
already seen the beautiful Giulia, the wife of Vespasiano
Colonna, in all the radiance of her early girlhood, and
that, worshipping her from afar, he had made her his
ideal.
So it came about that when, on January 10, 1529,
Clement VII. felt himself to be seriously ill and in danger
of death, with no provision made for his beloved nephew,
he resolved to raise him to the dignity of a Cardinal, with
the title of San Prassede ; and at the same time made him
Legate of Umbria and Vice-Chancellor of the Church.
Later he was appointed administrator of the Bishoprics
of Casale and Lecco, and there were bestowed upon him
the rich Abbeys of Tre Fontane in the Campagna, of
Santa Sabba, and of Grottoferrata near Frascati, once a
Greek monastery.
Now Vespasiano Colonna had died in the preceding
March, so that at this time Giulia, at fifteen, was a widow.
It would be very interesting to know whether Ippolito
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fully realized, that by accepting these ecclesiastical honours,
he was raising an impossible barrier between them —
whether high position and great wealth had too much
attraction for him, or whether he unwillingly yielded
from affection to his uncle ?
Of his passionate affection for Giulia, unchanged till
the day of his death, and of his bitter regret for their
parted lives, we can have no doubt. We have a touching
illustration of this in the young Cardinal's letter in
dedication of his great work, the " Translation of the
Second Book of the Mnead into Italian Blank Verse,"* to
the Most Illustrious Signora Giulia Gonzaga ; he compares
his sorrow to the woes endured at the destruction of
Troy:
" As to one oppressed by sore grief, the example of a
greater sorrow may bring alleviation, so it has been with
me. Finding no other remedy in my suffering, I turned
my mind towards the Burning of Troy, and weighing
that disaster against mine, I felt assured, without doubt,
that no greater evils befell within those walls than those
which I endured in my inmost heart. Seeking in a
measure to lighten these, while I lamented the woes of
Troy I have revealed mine own. There I send this to
you because it shows you a true image of my despair,
when neither sighs, nor tears, nor my deep sorrow have
ever revealed it to you."t
We have many instances of Ippolito's loyal and loving
service to his lady. He had a most earnest desire to
possess a portrait of her, and in the summer of 1532 he
obtained Giulia's permission to send the famous painter,
Sebastiano del Piombo, to Fondi, that he might paint a
* See Appendix for original Italian, note 4.
t First published in Rome, 1538, signed only II Cavaliere Errante.
105
A PRINCESS OF THE
picture in oils of her. We can fix the time exactly, as
there exists a letter of Sebastiano, dated June 8, 1532,* in
which he says : " I believe I am starting to-morrow, and
am going as far as Fondi, to paint a lady, and I think I
shall stay there fifteen days ; do not trouble to write to
me or send me anything until my return. . . ."
And in another letter, of July 15, 1532, he writes : " On
returning from Fondi I found that our poor Benvenuto
had died " (Benvenuto dalla Volpaia, a celebrated artistic
clockmaker).
In his " Life of Sebastiano," Vasari says : " In the
course of one month he painted this portrait, which, on
account of the celebrated beauty of the lady and the talent
of the artist, came forth as a divine picture."! We have
various poems in honour of this event, by Molza, Porrino,
and others. Ippolito was greatly pleased with the result,
and this portrait of Giulia was his most precious treasure.
He was an excellent judge of art and a most devoted
patron of artists. At the coronation of Charles V. in
1530, at Bologna, where the young Cardinal was such a
splendid figure, he sent for Titian and obtained for him a
commission to paint the Emperor in complete armour ;
and the picture gave His Imperial Majesty so much
pleasure that he paid 1,000 scudi for it, and ordered
another portrait from the great painter on his return from
Hungary.
During his short and brilliant life, the Cardinal dei
Medici showed himself to be indeed a worthy descendant
of Lorenzo the Magnificent, as a splendid patron of art —
another Mecaenas. All contemporary historians unite in
* " Les Correspondants de Michel Ange Sebastiano del Piombo."
Paris : Librairie de l'Art. 1890.
t See remarks on the portraits of Guilia, p. 274.
106
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his praise. Ammirato tells us that he dwelt in a magnifi-
cent palace in the Campo Marzio, where he held a Court
which was believed to consist of three hundred people of
all countries. Here he entertained with princely gener-
osity a great company of artists, musicians, poets, and
men of letters, and he was not only their patron but their
rival in all the arts. " Here were also Moors from Bar-
bary, chieftains in their own land, who, in their mastery
of horsemanship . . . and all other Moorish exercises,
were marvellous to behold. Here you might see Tartars
who could draw the bow and strike the lance with
unrivalled skill ; and here were Indians who, partly by
the vigour of their limbs, and partly by the dexterity and
agility of the whole body, surpassed all other men in
games of wrestling and fencing. These were also excel-
lent swimmers, and could remain so long under the water
that no one believed they would ever rise again. He had
selected a bodyguard of Turks as men prompt and skilful
in the handling of arms."
Adjoining the palace in the Campo Marzio was a great
garden, in which plants and trees from all lands were
collected, and in which there was a menagerie of wild
animals and rare birds such as had never before been seen
in Italy. Amongst these was a tame lion, given to him
by Francois I., and an immense bear, presented by
Caterina Cibo, Duchess of Camerino. Added to this,
Sansovino tells us that Ippolito had a magnificent show
of precious horses and dogs, that he gave wonderful
theatrical entertainments and sumptuous tournaments — in
short, that " through the splendour of his life he acquired
an illustrious name throughout Italy." He also insisted
that the medical teaching of Hippocrates should be made
use of in time of war, and so keen was his enthusiasm for
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A PRINCESS OF THE
architecture that he founded a club for the study of
Vitruvius, which met twice a week in Rome and was
called " La Virtu."
Even his uncle, Pope Clement, was somewhat dismayed
at his munificence, and desired Ippolito's Maestro di Casa
to remonstrate with him and ask him to dismiss some
of his attendants, only to receive this reply : " Let His
Holiness be told that I do not keep them at my Court
because I require their services, but for the reason that
they have need of mine." Paolo Giovio, who relates this,
adds that he cannot give enough praise to the generosity
of the Cardinal, his nobility of spirit, and charming
manners — indeed, he sums up his character as " royal-
minded."
Clement VII., who had soon recovered from his serious
illness of January, 1529, remained greatly devoted to the
splendid young Cardinal, and sent him as his Legate
on every important mission where magnificence was
desirable. When the Emperor came to Italy in 1530, it
was Ippolito who had the honour of receiving him, and
who spent four weeks in his company during the State
festivities at Mantua. Here, on Sunday, March 27, an
accident occurred out hunting "which might have caused
the death of an Emperor and a Cardinal," as the Venetian
Ambassador wrote. Charles V. had already killed a wild
boar, and was chasing a wounded stag, when his horse
rushed so violently against that of Ippolito as to throw
both riders to the ground. Happily, neither of them were
much hurt, and after this incident they were more friendly
than ever. We have already seen the important position
which the young Cardinal had taken at the coronation
ceremonies at Bologna. Two years later he was again
sent by the Pope as Legate to Germany, with a magnificent
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retinue " suitable to a great king,"* and he was received
with the highest honour both by the Emperor and by his
brother Ferdinand, King of the Romans. Lintz was at
this time threatened by the Turks, and the Cardinal dei
Medici, with princely munificence, raised and paid a
company of 8,000 Hungarians, riding at their head in
Hungarian costume.
It was in this dress that he was subsequently painted
by Titian ; he was always most unwilling to appear in
Cardinal's robes.
On his return from Hungary, he was summoned by his
uncle, Pope Clement VII., to accompany him to France
for the marriage which he had arranged, of Caterina dei
Medici with young Henri, the second son of King
Francois I. We have a very full and entertaining account
of the journey, which the Pope would fain have avoided
on the " plea of his age."f However, when he understood
that his presence was a diplomatic necessity, he made up
his mind to it, and was most genial and pleasant to his
travelling companions, amongst whom was Madonna
Maria Salviati, the widow of Giovanni delle Bande Nere,
in whose care Caterina had been placed.
The Papal company was welcomed with princely state
at Marseilles by military honours and salvoes of artillery
which made the city shake. The wedding took place
on the Feast of SS. Simon and Jude (October 28) in
the presence of a splendid assembly; and after a Low
Mass, the boy and girl (the bridal pair) stood hand in
hand on a carpet of gold brocade, and listened to a long
oration from Hymen and nuptial songs in their honour,
delivered by classical nymphs. The wedding supper was
held in the sala of the Consistory, where three tables
* Ammirato Opuscoli. + Clement VII. was then fifty-four.
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were placed for the chief guests, the Queen of France
entering on the arm of Admiral Chabot. At the first
table sat Pope Clement, the Queen, and the young bride.
The second was for the King, the Duke of Angouleme
(the bridegroom), and the Cardinals, amongst whom were
the Reverendissimo Ippolito dei Medici and his friends
Salviati and Ridolfo. At the third table were placed the
Dauphin,* with Bourbon, Lorena, and other barons of
France.f The rest of the company were entertained in
another chamber at many tables.
His Holiness appears to have been the life of the party;
he spoke excellent French, and jested loudly with King
Francois, who was also in high spirits, and made splendid
presents to many of the guests. Cardinal Ippolito refused
to accept anything except one splendid tame lion, which
he could not resist the joy of adding to his menagerie.
The dowry of Caterina was to be 30,000 gold ducats,J
besides magnificent clothes and precious jewels. In
November of the same year, 1533, Cardinal Ippolito was
sent to represent his uncle, the Pope, as sponsor to the
infant son of the Duke of Ferrara and his wife, Renee of
France. The later story of Ippolito's life, adventures,
and death will be told in the course of Giulia Gonzaga's
history.
* Francois, who died in 1536.
See Memoir of Antonio Sacco.
J Very little of this was ever paid by Clement VII.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER IX
1534
The Barbary Corsairs raid the Mediterranean coasts — Attempt of
Kheyr-ed-dln, better known as Barbarossa, to carry off the
beautiful Countess of Fondi to the Sultan, Suleyman II. — He
lands at Sperlonga with his corsairs, and reaches Fondi at night
— The hair-breadth escape of Giulia Gonzaga, and her flight
through the darkness— Her city and palace sacked, and many
of her people massacred — Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici heads
the avenging army— Expedition of the Emperor Charles V.
against Tunis and the Corsairs.
It was in the year 1534 that befell the most amazing and
striking incident in the life of Giulia Gonzaga, Countess
of Fondi, and widow of Vespasiano Colonna. It is
probable that by many people she is only remembered
as the heroine of this almost incredible adventure. The
fame of this great lady's wonderful beauty appears to
have spread beyond the confines of Europe, and even
to have reached the storied cities of Asia and the deserts
of Africa, kindling the imagination of Mohammedan
chieftains.
At this period the Ottoman Empire was ruled by the
Sultan Suleyman II., whose position and boundless self-
conceit are best described in his own words, written in
reply to a craven appeal from Francois I. when a prisoner
in Spain :
A PRINCESS OF THE
" I, who am the Sultan of Sultans, the Sovereign of
Sovereigns, the distributor of crowns to the monarchs
of the surface of the globe ; I, the shadow of God on the
earth, the Sultan of Padishah, of the White Sea, the
Black Sea, Rumelia, Anatolia, Caramania, Rum, Sulkadr,
Diarbekr, Kurdistan, Azerbijan, Persia, Damascus, Aleppo,
Cairo, Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, all Arabia, Yemen, and
other countries, which my noble ancestors conquered, and
which my august Majesty has likewise conquered with
my flaming sword ; I, Sultan Suleyman Khan, son of
Sultan Selim Khan, son of Sultan Bayazid : you who are
Francis, King of France, you have sent a letter to my
Porte, the refuge of Sovereigns. . . . Night and day our
horse is saddled and our sword girt on . . ." *
This magnificent potentate, the terror of Christendom,
whose outposts he had recently defeated at the fatal
Battle of Mohacs, in Hungary, while his pirate galleys
ravaged the coasts of the Mediterranean, had taken into
his service the great Barbary Corsair of Algiers, Kheyr-ed-
din, better known in Europe as Barbarossa.t No name
ever struck such terror into the heart of dwellers on the
shores of Spain and Italy. Many a gallant ship had fallen
a prey to his devouring galleys, and many a Christian
slave pulled at his oars or languished in the prisons
of Barbary. Everything prospered with this invincible
Kheyr-ed-din, the most daring of pirates ; his fleet in-
creased until he had a large number of galiots cruising
perpetually through the summer season, harassing the
coast and taking innumerable prizes, while the number of
his fighting men was largely increased by the Moors whom
he rescued from persecution in Spain.
* J. B. Bury, L.S.D. + See Appendix, note 5.
CARDINAL IPPOLITO DEI MEDICI AND THE ARTIST.
Sebastiano del Piombo. National Gallery.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
This was the famous Corsair who, having entered the
service of the Sultan and devoted the previous winter to
reconstructing the Turkish navy, set forth on his work
of destruction in July, 1534, with his fleet, said to carry
2,000 men, in eighty-four galleys. Starting from the
Golden Horn, he first attacked Messina and burnt some
ships ; then, passing on to the coast of Calabria, he
surprised Reggio, and carried off ships and slaves; then
he sacked San Lucido, taking 800 prisoners, and putting
to the sword most of the inhabitants. The Corsairs next
reached Cetraro de Monaci, to which they set fire, burning
seven galleys recently built by the Imperial Viceroy,
Senor Toledo, and taking rich spoil of wives and maidens.
The pirate ships passed boldly in sight of Naples, causing
great terror, and disembarked at the little island of
Procida,* which they laid utterly desolate. This new
" Attila" soon after reached Sperlonga, the fishing village,
eight miles distant from Fondi, where he killed the com-
mander of the fort, and enslaved or massacred most of
the inhabitants.
If rumour speaks truly, Giulia Gonzaga was the prey he
aimed at. He had formed the base, unthinkable scheme
of carrying her off as a unique present for the seraglio of
the Sultan, Suleyman II. ,t and the plot would have been
successful had it not been for the watchful devotion of
a faithful servant. At Sperlonga, on that fatal night,
Barbarossa found a traitor who showed him the way
through the wood, and by a stealthy night march, a strong
body of armed men, under the command of their leader,
* Three miles in length.
+ The fame of Giulia's surpassing beauty had spread not only
through Europe, but as far as Asia. She was called the " Nuova
Elena."
113 8
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reached the Via Appia some hours before dawn. The
inhabitants of Fondi were all in peaceful security, for no
one suspected the neighbourhood of the pirates, and the
bridges were down when Barbarossa and his host broke
through the gate towards the Levant, and so entered the
city. He met with no opposition ; the Podesta of Fondi,
Messer Steccacio, had not the courage to make any resist-
ance, and basely fled to secure his own safety. The Bishop,
the Reverendissimo Giacomo Pellegrino, also heard the
alarm; and made good his flight. Swiftly and silently the
Corsair made his way straight to the palace, and when he
found that his prey had escaped, he vented his fury upon
Giulia's unprotected household and her unfortunate people.
The looting went on during four terrible hours, and, as
elsewhere, many of those who were spared from the
sword were bound together and driven to Sperlonga to
be shipped as slaves. To add to the horrors of the scene,
there was a conflagration in the streets when pillage had
done its work. Even the Cathedral of San Pietro, so
rich in memories and treasures, did not escape the pro-
faning hand of the spoiler : tombs were robbed, and the
ashes of the dead were scattered, amongst these being the
remains of Prospero and Marc Antonio Colonna.
Most heartrending of all was the awful disaster which
befell the nuns in the little Benedictine Convent near
by, on a hill above the Strada Appia Nuova.* In his
hot pursuit, Barbarossa believed that Giulia had taken
refuge there, and the Turks broke into that sacred home
of religion, and, enraged at not finding their expected
prey, they massacred most of the helpless Sisters.
And, meantime, where was Giulia ? Whither had she
* Built on the ruins of a Pagan temple, and enclosing the site of
the Villa of Varro.
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fled from the deadly peril which threatened her ? Sud-
denly aroused from sleep at the dead of night by a faithful
servant, her pursuers already within the palace, prompt
and desperate action was her only chance. Clad as she
was in her night attire, with only time to snatch up a
silken coverlet, she is believed to have escaped through
the window, from whence she reached a secret draw-
bridge which could be raised or lowered at will, and
which led to the maschio (a part of the fortification) of
the citadel adjoining. Here was a dark passage which
brought her to the courtyard, where, by good fortune,
horses were obtained, and she and her companion reached
the open country. It appears most probable that Giulia
sought a refuge in her Castello of Campomidele, about
four miles distant, built high up on a hill, and strongly
fortified with solid walls and towers. Moreover, the way
thither lay through thick forests, where there was more
shelter for hiding from pursuit.
Vallecosa, where the Colonna princess had another
feudal castle, has a local tradition that here was her
hiding-place, but Campomidele has the stronger claim.
In a charming poem by Muzio Giustinopolitano, called
" La Ninfa Fugitiva," we have a vivid description of the
fears and emotions aroused by that fearful night-ride
in the heart of the fugitive lady. It is dedicated to
" Monsignor Hyppolito Cardinal de' Medici."* Here the
picture rises before us of the beautiful nymph, who so far
excelled other beauties in loveliness, fleeing for more than
her life, half-clad, barefoot, with her long tresses unbound
and waving in the breeze, as she urged her horse upward
through the steep forest-way. We watch her hurrying
through the darkness of that fearful night, starting at the
* Appendix, " La Ninfa Fugitiva," note 6.
115
A PRINCESS OF THE
murmur of whispering leaves, and trembling with icy
horror as the rustle of a crackling branch sounded in her
ears like the tramp of pursuing feet. What strange visions
would rise before her in the dim, mysterious darkness —
visions so far removed from her peaceful, sheltered life
that they would ever haunt her in the days to come !
Amongst the wild legends which have clustered round
this terrible night adventure, there is one which no serious
biographer of Giulia Gonzaga can pass over in silence,
for it has been repeated at the present day* by writers
who must be entirely ignorant of this noble lady's spotless
life and gentle character. It was actually supposed that,
as a recompense for the devotion of her old retainer, his
mistress caused him to be stabbed ! This fable no doubt
had its origin in the fact that the beautiful Giulia was set
up as the world's ideal of perfect modesty and chastity
(to which subject her latest biographer has devoted a whole
chapter). Thus to the popular mind she was another
Artemis, and the luckless mortal who chanced to look
upon her beauty, justly merited the fate of Actean.
The Countess of Fondi, overwhelmed with grief and
horror at the cruel events of that fatal night, lost no
time in seeking to deliver her unfortunate subjects, and
her thoughts naturally turned to Cardinal Ippolito as
their champion. Although the hope of her capture can
only have been a secondary object, we find another poet
writing :
" Giulia, piii che mortal cosa divina,
Credasi cagion fu che Solimano
Mandasse a depredar nostra marina." t
* See Appendix, note 7.
t II Paterno, in his " Trionfo della Castita."
116
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After leaving Fondi, Barbarossa sought to surprise the
hill-town of Itri, about seven miles distant, another feudal
possession of Giulia's, but the inhabitants made so gallant
a defence that the Corsairs were compelled to retreat.
They were more successful at Terracina, which they
reached without encountering any resistance, and the
ancient hill-city, so famous for its splendid situation and
for the ruined Palace of Theodoric, met with the usual
fate of pillage and massacre. In this case, also, the
Bishop, Alessandro Argoli, was fortunate enough to make
his escape.
We can scarcely believe that this terrible raid on the
coast of Italy, so far exceeding in its widespread disaster
any preceding attack, should have had for its main object
the capture of the beautiful Countess of Fondi. Yet this
is the positive statement of the most trustworthy historians
of the period.* There is also an interesting letter preserved
in the Archives of Modena, dated from Rome, August 10,
I 534> by Francesco Saraceno to Ercole d' Este, in which,
as news of the day, he says that Barbarossa had attempted
to seize Donna Giulia, " donarli al Turco," and that she
barely escaped on horseback to a distant rocky fortress.
"These men of Barbarossa then destroyed and burnt
Fondi."
When Giulia's messenger reached Rome, His Holiness
Pope Clement VII. was dying* — almost in extremis.
It was Cardinal Ippolito who aroused the other Cardinals
* Summonte, " Dell' istoria dclla citta e regno di Napoli," vol. iv.,
p. 146. Napoli, 1675. Sansovino, " Ritratto delle, piu nobili e
famose citta d' Italia," p. 31. Venezia, 1555. Segni, " Storia Fioren-
tina," vol. ii., p. 36. Milano, 1805. (These are only a few of the
authorities.)
t Clement VII. died on September 25, 1534.
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to fierce indignation and moved them to immediate action.
A strong company was hastily collected from the Papal
army, and under the command of the Lord Ippolito him-
self, set forth at once to avenge these cruel wrongs.
Unfortunately, it was too late for immediate action, as
the Corsairs had lost no time in setting sail from
Sperlonga with all their plunder and a cargo of slaves,
to the number of a thousand, collected from Fondi and
the other towns and villages on the coast. These pirate
raids had long been the terror of those Southern shores,
but never before had ravage and destruction been carried
out on so vast a scale. All Italy was now aroused to
fierce wrath, and the people of Naples alone, made a
donation of 250,000 ducats to the Emperor Charles, solely
that he might rid the land of these hateful infidels and
destroy their power for ever.
Cardinal Ippolito did all in the power of devotion and
princely generosity to relieve the misery of the unfortunate
people, and himself saw to the defences of Fondi: the
fortifications were strengthened, trusty guardians were
appointed to every post of importance, and fresh measures
were taken for the public safety. Not until then did he
give back the keys of the city to Giulia.
Meantime, the Corsair leader, elated and triumphant
with success, set forth on a bolder expedition — nothing
less than the conquest of the King of Tunis. During
three centuries, since the ruin of the African Empire of
the Almohades, this old Carthaginian domain had been
ruled by kings of the dynasty of the Beni Hafs (1228-1534).
They had been recognized by the kingdoms of Europe,
and merchants from Genoa, Pisa, and Venice had traded
in their port. But the present ruler, Muley Hassan,
twenty-second of his line, had waded to the throne through
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the blood of his kinsmen, was cowardly as well as cruel,
and fled from his city at the mere approach of the terrible
Barbarossa. When he attempted a feeble attack with
the help of some Arab tribes, the Turkish guns were too
much for him, and Tunis was added to the Ottoman
Empire.
Muley Hassan appealed to the Emperor Charles V., who
was already pledged to avenge the wrongs of Italy, and
who clearly saw that if Tunis became a nest of pirates,
his realm of Sicily would be in constant danger. Already
the coast of Algiers was in the power of the Corsairs,
but the harbour of Tunis was the key of the situation,
and he was only too glad to take up the cause of the
exiled king. All that winter, great preparations were
made for the coming expedition. Toledo, Viceroy of
Naples, caused a galley to be built at his own expense,
and a number of great lords, more especially in Southern
Italy, followed his example. The attempted outrage upon
the Countess of Fondi appears to have been the match
which set aflame the widespread enthusiasm. The great
Andrea Doria, Doge of Genoa, already the rival of Kheyr-
ed-din, for each held a supreme position on his own side
of the water, was grimly ready to meet his old foe again.
The new Pope, Paul III., sent twenty-two galleys under
Virginio Orsini, which joined with those of Genoa and
the rest of the Italian fleet at Naples in May. The
Emperor joined them at Palermo on June n with a great
company of Imperial troops from Spain and Germany,
and the powerful armada of more than 300 ships set sail
for Africa, arriving after a prosperous voyage of three
days. The supreme command was given to the Marchese
del Vasto, and the first attack was on the Goletta, the
twin towers which guarded the channel of Tunis. The
»9
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post of danger was always claimed by the Knights of
Malta and their great carack S. Anna (which they had
sent with four other galleys) was moored close to the
fortress in which their heavy cannon soon made a breach,
and they gallantly rushed through to plant their banner
on the battlements. In spite of desperate sallies by the
besieged, in which the flower of Italy's nobles were slain,
the defenders were driven back into the city, and Goletta
was taken by the Christians, with its forty guns and stores
of ammunion and weapons.
Barbarossa came out with a great army to face the foe,
but his Berbers refused to fight, and the thousands of
Christian slaves in the Citadel broke their chains and
turned against their tyrants with desperate courage.
Placed thus between two fires, the Corsair chief was
compelled to retreat, and with great difficulty made his
way to Bona, where he had left many of his ships. The
unfortunate city of Tunis suffered the usual terrible
penalty of defeat, and for three whole days was given up
to barbarous plunder and massacre.
Before Charles V. left in August, he had concluded
a treaty with Muley Hassan, which they both duly swore
to on Cross and sword. Goletta was to belong to Spain ;
the ruler of Tunis was to pay tribute, to free all Christian
slaves, to renounce piracy, and to offer annual homage
of six Moorish horses and twelve falcons. All this looked
well on the signed parchment, but in point of fact it was
absolutely without value ; for even if the renegade king
should wish to keep his word, the fierce Moslems would
never yield allegiance to him or to an " infidel " Emperor.
But the Christian world was elated by this transitory
success, and Charles V. was hailed with enthusiasm as
having conquered the invincible Barbarossa, set free
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thousands of Christian slaves, and saved Europe from
the dominion of the dreaded Turk.
We cannot wonder that Giulia Gonzaga should have
watched the progress of this expedition with intense
interest, and several letters written to her from Tunis
during the siege have been preserved. One of these,
which is now at Rome in the Biblioteca Vallicellana, was
addressed to her secretary; while another, sent direct to
her, was written at Tunis on August 7, 1535, by Francesco
Miranda, Chancellor of the Prince of Sulmona. This is
the precise title :
" Copy of a letter sent to the Illustriss ma Sign™ Giulia
Gonzaga Colonna, containing : the taking of the Goletta
with full particulars ; the taking and sack of Tunis with
full particulars, executed by His Cassarean Majesty; the
method and order of His Majesty's encampment in Tunis;
the night Parliament held in Tunis by Barbarossa with
the Arabs, Moors, Janissaries, and renegade Christians ;
18,000 Christian slaves set free by order of His Caesarean
Majesty ; entrance of His Majesty into Tunis and flight
of Barbarossa ; the prayers of the Moors to the Emperor
and to the King of Tunis for their salvation ; offer of the
King of Tunis to Csesar to save Tunis ; amount of money
found in Tunis by means of a renegade Christian and
given by His Majesty to the Marchese of Vasto ; promises
of Arabs and Moors concerning the taking and death of
Barbarossa."
The Countess of Fondi was indeed avenged on the
terrible Corsair chief.
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CHAPTER X
Trouble between Giulia Gonzaga and Isabella Colonna concerning
the will of Vespasiano Colonna — Isabella is at strife with her
husband's relations— Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici is sent from
Florence on an embassy to the Emperor at Tunis — He pays a
visit to Giulia at Fondi, and passes on to Itri — Here he is
poisoned by the treachery of Duke Alessandro of Florence —
Giulia is with him in his last hours till his death, on August 10,
1535 — Her bereavement an undying sorrow to Giulia — Deeply
mourned by all, he is borne to Rome and buried with stately
funeral honours.
A sad home-coming indeed had it been for Giulia Gonzaga
Colonna, to find her beautiful Fondi ravaged and her
beloved people mourning for their lost ones ! But with
a brave heart she set herself gallantly to the task of
restoration, showing princely generosity in her gifts, and
bearing everywhere hope and comfort to the bereaved
as she told the story of the mighty armada sent forth
to conquer the pirate host and redeem the captives of
Barbary.
The Countess of Fondi had other troubles of her own
at this time, for ever since the death of her brother Luigi
Rodomonte there had been constant irritating domestic
strife with his widow. Regardless of her husband's dying
legacy of peace and love when, in the codicil to his will,
he so tenderly " recommended his sister to the affection
ITALIAN REFORMATION
of his wife," Isabella had never ceased to maintain
a hostile attitude towards Giulia. Her grievance really
dated from the death of her father, Vespasiano Colonna,
when he left " mia mogliera donna et patrona in tutto
lo stato predetto et ancor del Regno, sua via durante,
servando lo habito de vidua. . . ." That her father's
young widow should be left in so splendid a position
was intolerable to the daughter — ultimate heiress of a girl
about her own age, who showed no disposition to marry
again — and she made desperate efforts to have the will
set aside. Meantime she gave as much trouble as possible,
was always in money difficulties through her extravagance,
neglected to pay the income due to Giulia from various
estates, and carried on a worrying course of ceaseless
litigation.
Isabella appears to have quarrelled with all her Colonna
relations. She was certainly of a grasping disposition,
for she had been barely six months a widow when she
determined to visit the dominions of her husband in
Lombardy and assert her right to them. On June 9,
I 533> sne se * forth from Fondi, with a train of thirteen
ladies and a strong escort, and had a prosperous journey
to Gazzuolo, where she was most kindly welcomed by
Luigi's aged grandmother, Madonna Antonia del Balzo.
The whole family seem to have shown her every honour
and attention, but from all accounts she was by no means
popular amongst her husband's relations. Her manner
was proud and overbearing ; as a Colonna princess, she
looked down upon the House of Gonzaga, and she was
also strangely obstinate in various eccentric ways. Thus,
instead of following the usual custom of Christendom by
keeping Friday as a fast, she gave much trouble by her
peculiar devotion of fasting with Lenten fare, in the
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company of her ladies, on Tuesdays.* This in itself
might be a small matter, but the Lady Isabella showed
utter disregard for all counsel.
She soon left Gazzuolo, and insisted upon setting up
her Court at Sabbioneta, where she attempted to rule the
State as supreme mistress, although in point of fact she
had no legal rights there, the father of Luigi, the Abate
Lodovico Gonzaga, being still alive. The only person to
whom she appears not to have been wanting in courtesy
was Federico, Duke of Mantua, who paid her a state
visit with great pomp at Sabbioneta. She certainly left
no good impression behind amongst her husband's kins-
folk when she at length returned to Fondi, where Giulia
appears to have been ever ready to receive her sister-in-
law, and to welcome with the warmest affection her little
nephew Vespasiano. He was not yet four years old, but
was a splendid child for his age, and already the like-
ness to his father, Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga, was quite
striking, with his golden hair, his fair complexion, and
his beautiful blue eyes. In this little boy, who was
destined in the coming years to be the delight and interest
of her life, Giulia Gonzaga already loved to trace farther
resemblance to her dearly-loved brother in the precocious
intelligence and bright, happy temper.
On the other hand, his mother Isabella seems to have
come home in a disappointed, fretful mood, and to have
been more aggressive and trying than usual. An inter-
esting letter of this period throws some light upon the
complicated subject of the dispute between the sisters-
in-law. It is dated from Fondi, June 3, 1535, and is
addressed to Don Ferrante Gonzaga, a favourite cousin
* "Vita di Luigi Gonzaga," Affo, Irenio. (Isabella did not return
to Fondi until May, 1534.)
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of the Countess of Fondi. He was made Viceroy of
Sicily.
In this Giulia alludes to the difficulties raised with
respect to her husband Vespasiano's will : " They say
that the feudal possessions could not be left to me with-
out the consent of the vassals before the death of Signor
Vespasiano, or else that Donna Isabella had ' redeemed '
that consent. ... I believe — indeed, I am certain — that
my Lord did not hold this view, because I see clearly
that he wished to leave me all. But if it were otherwise,
as he left five thousand ducats da vivere to his daughter,
as accepted by the Signor Luigi my brother, and that the
rest was mine, it follows that the rest of the income would
belong to me. If Donna Isabella demanded some con-
firmation from His Majesty I cannot show it, because the
documents of Fondi are lost and that notary is dead. A
Procuration was found which was made in Gaeta, but not
this one. But I know that when my brother went to
Court he took a Procuration from Donna Isabella. But
in any case I do not desire to take her State, but only
a means of living for myself; and my lawyers can bear
me witness that, when they told me I could claim a great
deal, I always said that I was willing to be content with
less than my rights, as your Lordship can see in the
division which, amongst others, I was willing to make
with Donna Isabella. Hearing now that your Lordship
is coming to Naples, I am very pleased, having seen what
kind interest you have always taken in my affairs . . .
and I pray that you will try to arrange matters for me in
some way, for I shall be content with anything you do ;
and if there is need of His Majesty's help, I hope to
obtain it through your Lordship and the ' Illustrissimo ed
Eccellentissimo nostro. . . .' "
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This last allusion is no doubt to the Cardinal Ippolito,
who would have so little opportunity of serving his
beloved lady any more, as his tragic story was so soon
drawing to an end.
Meantime a temporary arrangement had already been
made between these two ladies, and an agreement had
been signed by them both on May 24, 1535, by which
Isabella promised to pay 2,500 ducats a year, in three
divisions, to her sister-in-law while the matter was being
tried, and without prejudice to her rights. On the other
hand, Giulia agreed to this arrangement also without
prejudice to her claims. This was to hold good during
the absence of Isabella from May to September in the
Abruzzi, and until the lawsuit was decided one way or
the other.
In the absence of her sister-in-law during those three
summer months, Donna Giulia probably looked forward
to a peaceful, happy time, and no foreboding warned her
of the coming tragedy which would overshadow her out-
look upon life, and make her regardless henceforth of
worldly honour and of all that wealth and greatness can
bestow.
We are told that the devotion of the young Cardinal
Ippolito for the Countess of Fondi had become stronger
than ever after the anxieties and perils of her escape from
Barbarossa. This was shown in many ways, but perhaps
more especially in his anxiety to show favour to anyone
who»was brought to his notice or recommended by Donna
Giulia. Thus, when the poet Molza feared that he was
in disgrace with the Cardinal, it only needed a word of
intercession from Giulia to obtain his forgiveness. The
eagerness and haste with which Ippolito had collected
the Papal troops and led them against the Corsairs, his
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generous help in her time of trouble when Fondi was left
wasted and despairing, and his chivalrous sympathy, had
touched her heart more deeply than ever. We may
imagine how gladly the Countess welcomed her dear
friend as a passing guest at Fondi when he arrived from
Tivoli, passing through Albano, with a large retinue,
towards the end of June, on his way to Tunis with a
special embassy to the Emperor Charles V.
It would take too long to describe the tangled web of
politics at Florence, the whole story of Duke Alessandro
dei Medici, and the hatred and indignation with which
he was looked upon by his subjects. We gather that the
Cardinal was the bearer of an appeal against the evil
doings of his cousin, and was also probably excited by
the ambition of taking part in the crusade against the
Turks. In any case, after a brief stay at Fondi, where
his gallant youth and brilliant talent made him the life
and spirit of the whole Court, he took leave of the
Countess and passed on to her neighbouring city of Itri,
beautifully situated on a mountain-side, taking up his
abode in the Monastery of San Francesco. Here he pro-
posed to await the coming to Gaeta of a galley bound for
Tunis, as it was urgent that he should have audience with
the Emperor before he again set sail for Europe.
We have various conflicting accounts of all that happened
during that stay at Itri, but there is no doubt that it was a
troubled and anxious time for the young Cardinal. The
death of the Medici Pope, Clement VII., and the election
of Alessandro Farnese, Paul III., had made a great differ-
ence in the position of Ippolito. He was no longer the
privileged nephew to whom all things were permitted and
who could do no wrong. A few months before this, one of
his favourite adherents, Conte Ottavio della Genga, had
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A PRINCESS OF THE
been suddenly arrested by the Papal authorities on some
trifling pretence, and Ippolito had shown his indignation
by moving with all his Court to a villa outside Rome.
When the Pope had made amends and sent apologetic
messages by the Emperor's Ambassador, the Medici
Cardinal condescended to return to his palace, and, as
Varchi tells us, " so great was the affection and respect in
which the Cardinal Ippolito was held by all the Roman
nobility, that on the day when he rode back to Rome with
all his stately retinue, there was no gentleman of any rank
who did not go forth to meet him outside the city, in order
to accompany him first to the presence of the Pope and
then to his own palace." *
We are told that the political exiles from Florence
(known as the fuorusciti) had selected seven leading men of
their number to send to Itri in order that they might
accompany the Cardinal to the presence of the Emperor.
It is believed that the Duke of Florence, hearing of this,
determined to lose no time in getting rid of this dangerous
cousin, whose very existence was a menace to him. We
have the fullest and most circumstantial accounts of the
manner in which a deadly poison was conveyed to Itri,
how the house-steward Giovanni Andrea was bribed to
administer it, and how he bided his time for a convenient
moment to carry out his fatal design.
Meantime the Cardinal was eagerly hastening on his
preparations for departure, but still found time to pay
frequent visits to Giulia at Fondi. The poet Molza, who
was at the Court there, writes at this time : " Our Cardinal
is now at Itri, with a greater desire to pass into Africa than
ever Rodomonte had to come to Italy. And I have offered
myself to him to do the same. But possibly His Illus-
* Varchi, "Storia Fiorentia," bk. xiv.
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trious Lordship has need of men who will carry swords and
lances rather than the pen, and thinks that young Soranzo
and I had better stay at home this time. Keep well and
love your Molza."
The poet had just received a sonnet from Ippolito full of
enthusiasm for his expedition to Africa, and the " true and
glorious honour which he hoped to find as the price of his
valour on that ancient storied shore." But a more distant
journey awaited the gallant young prince.
Ippolito appears to have been taken ill on August 2, and
although there seemed no great cause for anxiety, various
friends hastened from Rome to join him. To one of these,
Bernardino Salviati, the Prior of Rome, he confided that
he believed he was poisoned by Giovanni Andrea. This
was on August 6, immediately after he had taken a small
bowl of chicken-broth for his dinner, which immediately
caused violent pain. The steward was at once arrested
and imprisoned in the Citadel of Itri by order of the town
notary. He took the matter lightly at first, remarking
that he hoped the doctors would not treat his master for
poison, but " give him soothing and canonical drugs."
Varchi says that later he made a full confession. Every-
thing was done that was possible, and a messenger was
sent to Rome in order to obtain from the Pope a certain
olio da caravita which was believed to be a powerful
remedy against poison. But it was remembered afterwards
that this was not sent.
The news of the Cardinal's illness reached Giulia when
she was at Mass in the Cathedral of Fondi, and without a
moment's delay, she at once rode forth in such breathless
haste, that it was long before Molza and other members of
her suite could overtake her, on the long, straight road
towards Itri. We can dimly imagine the turmoil of her
129 9
A PRINCESS OF THE
feelings. In those bygone days of pomp and prosperity,
the young Countess* had upheld her pride and had striven
to regard the Lord Ippolito as merely her courteous friend,
her brilliant companion, her gallant champion and defender.
But now the veil was torn aside, and the touchstone of
peril and disaster had revealed to herself the deep, undying
love which was the master-key of all her being. But this
was the time for action, not for thought; and as she
breasted the steep hill on which Itri stands, she nerved
herself to courage and endurance, for all her horizon was
bounded by the sick-chamber within those grey walls of
San Francesco.
There we cannot follow her ; the sweet and intimate
converse held in those last lingering days between the two
fine natures " whose love had known no earthly close," is
not for us to intrude upon. It would ever remain a
precious memory to the one left behind ... for whom
henceforth the pomps and vanities of this world would be
no more than a passing show. With delicate sympathy
the historian Paolo Giovio, who was then at Itri, says:
" To the Lord Ippolito, death was less bitter in that he
was near to Donna Giulia, who ministered to him with all
virtuous tenderness."
The young Cardinal, tormented by a " piccolissima e
lenta febbre " but unconquered by pain or weakness to the
last, fortified by the rites of the Church, passed away about
noon on Monday, August 10, 1535. Suddenly called from
the joyous, splendid life which had been his — brightened
by all that high estate, and friends, and letters, and learn-
ing, and warlike energy, could add to its glory — Ippolito
met death with the gallant fortitude of a hero on the
battlefield. Once more it was the immemorial tragedy
* Giulia was only twenty-two at this time.
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whose sad lament echoes through the ages— of beautiful
youth cut off in its splendid prime. Many a bereavement
had Giulia endured before, but this was indeed her crown
of sorrow.
Great was the lamentation throughout all Italy for the
death of the young Cardinal dei Medici, and especially in
Rome, where he had been so striking and splendid a
personality, beloved by all men for his chivalrous courtesy
and his princely generosity. The deepest sorrow for his
loss was felt, not only by his personal friends — the great
nobles, the men of letters, poets, and artists — but it was
shared by the populace of the Eternal City. Never had
such a demonstration of universal mourning been seen as
on the arrival of the Cardinal's funeral procession in Rome.*
In solemn pomp his body had been borne on the shoulders
of his Moorish household servants, in the midst of a great
company of mourners, courtiers, friends, men of letters, his
chief captains and soldiers with trailing banners, along the
ancient Appian Way, through the Porta San Giovanni, to
the Cardinal's own palace. Here the bier was joined by
the nobles, Cardinals, and great dignitaries of Rome,
who, followed by a multitude weeping and tearing their
clothes, passed on to the Church of San Lorenzo and San
Damaso, near the Campo de' Fiori, and here was laid to
rest all that was mortal of the great Cardinal Ippolito dei
Medici. An epitaph was placed on the left side of the
sepulchral chapel, enumerating his virtues and marvellous
talents. f But we find his greatest monument in the chorus
of praise and grief which arose on all sides. Here we find
him spoken of as the new Mecsenas, whose loss to art and
* Ammirato, "Opuscoli," vol. iii.
+ Forcella, " Iscrizione delle chiese ed altre edifizi di Roma"
vol. v., p. 174.
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letters is irreparable as the example of all virtues, the rival
as well as the patron of poets and musicians, of such
infinite charm that he was beloved as much as he was
admired, a most gallant soldier, a skilled diplomatist —
and all this when he had but reached his twenty-fourth
year.
Had his life been prolonged, it was believed by his friends
that he would have attained to the Papal throne, and dis-
played to the world a splendid successor of Leo X., with
the warlike vigour of a Julius II. Or, after the death of
his cousin Alessandro, he might have proved such a Duke
of Florence as would rival and excel the glories of Lorenzo
the Magnificent. The position of Cardinal Ippolito was
already too exalted for safety, as was proved by his sudden
death. The honours bestowed upon the poisoner, Giovanni
Andrea, by Duke Alessandro, appear to have left no doubt
of his complicity, and, before long, both the instigator and
his tool met with a violent death. Alessandro was
murdered by his cousin, and Andrea was put to death by
his fellow-citizens of Borgo San Sepulcro in horror of his
crime. As for Pope Paul III., he reaped the success of the
fatal event which he did not greatly mourn, for he lost no
time in bestowing all the wealth and episcopal endowments
of Cardinal Ippolito upon his own nephews.
Meantime, there was one true mourner whose undying
love had changed for her the aspect of all worldly things.
Giulia Gonzaga returned to her palace and took up once
more the burden of her daily life, but she devoted most
of her time to prayer and meditation. In this great
sorrow her heart and affections were utterly detached
from the world of state and pomp to which she was
so soon to be summoned back.
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CHAPTER XI
The Emperor Charles V., after taking possession of Tunis, appoints
Ferrante Gonzaga, Governor of Sicily — He travels on to Naples,
and invites the Countess of Fondi to his Court — The Emperor
finds a husband for the rich young widow, Isabella Colonna, in
the son of his General at Pavia, Charles de Lannoy, Prince of
Sulmona, February, 1536 — Giulia Gonzaga takes up her abode
in the Convent of San Francesco delle Monache, in Naples —
She listens to the preaching of Ochino, and becomes an earnest
pupil of the Reformer, Juan Valdes — At her suggestion he writes
his famous " Alfabeto Cristiano " — Other works of Valdes —
His religious assemblies at Chiaja — Letter of George Herbert on
the writings of Valdes.
We have already followed the victorious course of
Charles V. until he had completely taken possession of
the city of Tunis, and avenged the wrongs of the
Christians upon the unfortunate Turks. He remained in
Africa for some time to enjoy his triumph and strengthen
his position before he set sail for Sicily, an island in which
he was always greatly interested. Here he arrived on
August 17, and remained for ten weeks, resting after
his arduous labours, and seeing to the general government
as well as strengthening the fortifications of the harbours.
When he took his departure early in November he
appointed Signor Ferrante Gonzaga,* son of Francesco
and Isabella d' Este of Mantua, as Viceroy of the Kingdom
of Sicily. The Emperor arrived on November 25 at
* See Genealogy of Gonzaga family, No. 2.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
Naples, where he made a triumphant entry, and was
hailed as conqueror of the terrible Barbarossa, and pro-
claimed champion of Christendom. On November 25,
1535, Charles V. made a solemn entry into Naples, pass-
ing under the arch of the Porta Capuana, " artistically
transformed with symbols, commemorating the glory of
the conqueror, lord of a mighty realm on which the sun
never sets." Wonderful indeed were the preparations,
consisting of statues and pictures by the finest sculptors
and artists of the day, as well as Latin verses by at least
two poets.* In a letter written by Paolo Giovio, who was
then at Naples, we have a very interesting appreciation of
the Emperor, who was now thirty-five years of age and
still unmarried : " His Majesty has given judgment against
certain barons who have ill-treated the people, amongst
whom are Carafi, Caraccioli, and others. And not to
appear melancholy he has (fatto maschero) worn a mask,
and paid a visit to Lucrezia Scaglione, who is more
beautiful than ever, and has two beautiful daughters,
married. There are also three beautiful maidens, amongst
whom he might choose a bride — Diana di Cardona,
Govella Coscia, and Cornelia Gennara. . . . But the
truth is that His Majesty is as cold as the tramontana
(north wind), and flies from all occasion of sinning even
in thought."!
It was a wonderful galaxy of fair ladies, besides all the
great nobles, which was gathered together at Naples to do
honour to their feudal lord. But His Majesty's first and
most pressing desire appears to have been to meet the
far-famed Countess of Fondi, who had so narrowly
escaped the Corsair raid.
* Miccio, " Vita di Pedro de Toledo."
t Letter to Monsignor di Carpi, December 28, 1535.
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A most gracious invitation was at once sent, praying
that the Signora Giulia Gonzaga Colonna would vouch-
safe to visit the Emperor at Naples. From so high
a prince, her feudal lord, this was, in fact, a command
which the lady had no choice but to obey. Isabella, who,
since her return from the Abruzzi, had found the Court
at Fondi terribly dull, was delighted to accompany her
sister-in-law, and with a retinue suitable to their rank,
the two ladies travelled to Naples about the middle of
December. Here they were received with great honour,
and at the splendid Court held by the Viceroy, Don Pedro
de Toledo, for the glory of his prince, Isabella Colonna
was quite in her element. Giulia had the pleasure of
meeting many of her old acquaintances, amongst whom
were the charming sisters, Maria d' Aragona, married to
the Marchese del Vasto, Vittoria Colonna's adopted son
(her husband's nephew), and the bright and high-spirited
Giovanna d' Aragona, the wife of Vittoria's brother,
Ascanio Colonna.
Neither of their husbands were very satisfactory ; Maria
had a rival whom Alfonso d' Avalos preferred, but his
wife was too proud to make any complaint. She simply
replied to her indignant friends : " I have no doubt that
time and my love and the voice of duty will bring my
husband back to me. . . ." Her constancy was justified,
and after three years his eyes were opened, and he returned
to his wife and became once more her devoted lover.
Indeed, his jealousy caused quite an unpleasant scene at
an entertainment given by the Viceroy Toledo. As for
the other sister, Giovanni, her husband Ascanio had
given himself up entirely to the study of astrology and
alchemy, in which he wasted his whole fortune.
Another friend of Giulia deserves special notice — the
»35
A PRINCESS OF THE
poetess Veronica Gambara, who had recently shown her
strong admiration for the young Cardinal Ippolito and
her tender sympathy for his loss, both in prose and verse.
This lady belonged to the older group of noble ladies,
remarkable for their well-preserved beauty and culture,
who had formed part of the literary society of Isabella
d' Este. Veronica had lost her husband, Gilberto I., Lord
of Correggio, in 1518, and ever since had worn "the
garments of mourning, while in her stable she kept four
horses blacker than night as a suitable emblem of her
undying grief." But more welcome still to the young
Countess of Fondi would be the meeting with her trusted
adviser and devoted cousin, Ferrante Gonzaga, recently
made Viceroy of Sicily, who had accompanied the
Emperor to Naples, bringing with him his wife, Isabella
da Capua, the heiress he had married when disappointed
about Isabella Colonna.
Amongst the great ladies who added brilliance to the
Court of Naples at this time, we find the Princess of
Salerno, the Princess of Stigliano, the poetess Maria
Cardona, wife of Ferrante d' Este, Dionora Sanseverino,
Isabella Brisegna, and many others, all of them worthy
of note, and some of whom we shall meet again in the
coming most interesting phase of Giulia's life. As for the
Emperor, he might be " cold as the tramontana " so far
as he was personally concerned with all these fair ladies,
but he was keenly alive to their value as an asset in the
payment of his debts. Thus, how could he better
recompense one of his valiant generals than with the
hand of some rich young widow, who would feel it an
honour to have her matrimonial affairs arranged with
great magnificence by His Supreme Majesty himself?
Amongst the gallant company of young nobles who had
136
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accompanied him to Naples, there was no one to whom
Charles V. owed more than to Philippe de Lannoy, the
son of that Charles de Lannoy who had fought so valiantly
at Pavia, and to whom Francois I. had yielded up his
sword. As Viceroy of Naples, the elder Lannoy had
rendered the most important services to the Imperial
cause, and had ultimately died of the plague in Rome,
after that terrible Sack of the Eternal City, of which
he had striven to mitigate the horrors. His son Philippe
had also distinguished himself as a general of cavalry,
having fought in Germany against the Duke of Saxony
with courage and ability. He had already been made
Prince of Sulmona, a district lying between Aquila and
Naples, whose chief town is famous as the birthplace
of Ovid, in the midst of the picturesque scenery which
he describes in such glowing terms. Near Sulmona is
the famous hermitage from which the holy man San
Pietro da Morrone was taken by force to be made Pope
under the name of San Celestino.
The lady selected as a bride for this fortunate young
soldier was the sister-in-law of Giulia, Isabella Colonna,
daughter of Vespasiano Colonna, and widow of Luigi
Rodomonte Gonzaga. We have no reason to suppose
that the young lady was not perfectly satisfied with this
arrangement, for she certainly had no desire for perpetual
widowhood, and always sought to grasp all the worldly
pleasure and position within her reach. But there are a
few words on the subject preserved in the Archives of
Modena which may tend to show that she had not much
choice in the matter.* "The Signora Isabella, being
unable to contradict the will of her superiors, has yielded
* Letter from Matteo Casale to Alessandro Guarino, Ducal Coun-
cillor, February 19, 1536.
137
A PRINCESS OF THE
to their desire, and will marry the Signor, Prince of
Sulmona."
This wedding took place on February 27, 1536, and in
a letter written to the Duke of Ferrara, we have a full
account of the splendid banquet given on the occasion, in
the palace of the Lord Sanseverino, Prince of Bisignano,
to which the Emperor and all his Court were invited.
The ceremony itself was performed in the presence of
Charles V. with all magnificence. He gave the bride as
a dowry the picturesque castle and estate of Caramanico
in the Abruzzi, not far from her husband's Principality of
Sulmona. Amongst the guests who were present, we
must notice Persio Crescensi, whom we shall meet again
as Isabella's secretary.
Unfortunately the difficulties concerning the rights of
Giulia and her sister-in-law were not settled, and con-
tinued for years to be a source of trouble and anxiety.
One immediate result of this marriage was that the clause
in the will of Luigi Gonzaga with regard to his son now
took effect, and the five-year-old Vespasiano was placed
under the guardianship of his grandfather, the Abate
Lodovico Gonzaga, who came forth from his religious
retreat to accept the solemn charge, and took up his
abode once more with his aged mother, Antonio del
Balzo, in the palace of Gazzuolo.
Having satisfactorily arranged a suitable marriage for
Isabella Colonna, it would have greatly pleased the
Emperor if he had been able to do the same for the
beautiful Countess of Fondi, who was at this time still in
the very prime of life, although so much had happened to
her in her twenty-three years. But Giulia had already
given a practical form to her earnest desire that she might
forsake the pomps and vanities of this world. Before the
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
end of December, 1535, she had applied to Pope Paul III.
for a Brief, permitting her, " as a secular person," to live
henceforth in the Convent of San Francesco delle
Monache,* close to the church of the same name (founded
by King Robert in the year 1325, "where dwelt certain
nuns, not cloistered, who distributed daily the King's
alms ")•
Charles V. had such strong religious feelings of his
own, that he had every respect for those of others, and
appears to have shown his kindness and sympathy in
every way, until the young widowed princess obtained
the permission to take up a life of uncloistered prayer
and meditation in the Convent of San Francesco. It is
interesting to know that the Emperor and Giulia con-
stantly met in the Cathedral, where at this time Fra
Bernardino Ochino was preaching those wonderful ser-
mons which His Majesty was wont to say, " would draw
tears from stones." In Lent of the previous year, when
the friar had been giving a course of sermons in Rome,
the Cardinal Ippolito had been amongst those who were
deeply impressed by them. In a letter from Agostino
Gonzaga we read : " This preacher is a man of most holy
life, and his teaching is devoted to making plain the
Gospels. His one desire is to teach men how to walk in
the footsteps of Christ, and he teaches with the deepest
sincerity, and the most moving voice. He never fears to
speak hard truths to his hearers for their good, while his
words of rebuke are chiefly aimed at those in high
position, so that all Rome flocks to hear him. The
Reverendissimo Medici never misses one of his sermons
at which many of the Sacred College are always present.
* Now called the Rotunda. See Arch. St. Nap., "Catalogi degli
edifizi sacri delle citte de Napoli," 1883, p. 293, Series XIII.
139
A PRINCESS OF THE
. . . We are all delighted beyond measure with his teach-
ing. . . . The Signora Vittoria Colonna is a constant
disciple of this friar, in whose words she recognizes a
revival of the true and holy life of San Francesco."
This Bernardino Ochino was a Franciscan friar of
Siena, and for three years was general of his order ; he is
described as " fiery, proud, austere," with a large pale face,
and long shaggy beard. Wherever he preached, his
sermons created the greatest enthusiasm, and Cardinal
Bembo wrote from Venice : " I am prayed by divers
gentle souls in this city that you would be pleased to
persuade your Padre Fra Bernardino of Siena to come
hither next Lent and preach in the Church of the Holy
Apostles, to the reverence and honour of our Lord God ;
which thing they greatly desire to obtain his reverence.
Nor they alone, but all the citizens are in infinite expecta-
tion of hearing him." After his request had been granted,
the Cardinal expresses his admiration of the friar's
eloquence and piety, adding " that he had never heard
such preaching."
It was after hearing a sermon of Ochino that the
Signora Giulia Gonzaga was so moved one day that she
could not control her emotion, and came weeping out of
the Church of San Giovanni Maggiore. It so happened
that she was observed by a friend of hers, a certain
Spanish gentleman of great learning and piety, Sefior
Juan de Valdds, formerly Papal chamberlain, who had
occasionally been one of her guests at Fondi, and who
was now secretary to the Viceroy.* Seeing the lady's
trouble and agitation, Valdes accompanied her to her
home, where she earnestly questioned him with regard to
the teaching which they had just heard. In the light of
* See Appendix, note 8.
140
ITALIAN REFORMATION
after-events, it is very interesting to remember that this
religious conversation is believed to have been the origin
of that beautiful work which had so great an influence on
the early disciples of the Italian Reformation, and which
is known by the name of the " Alfabeto Cristiano."
Of this work and its devout author we shall have more
to say later. At this time Juan de Valdes was chiefly
known by a curious " Dialogue," published some years
before with the famous "Lactancio" of his brother
Alfonso.
In this " Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron" there was an
attack upon the abuses of the Church, Mercury and
Charon being made to discuss with the souls of the
departed their religious life and the affairs of the world.*
But to return to the meeting of the princess with Valdes,
a brief account will be necessary to show the deep
impression made upon Giulia by the words which she had
just heard. She found relief in taking counsel with one
whom she already revered for his piety and learning.
She spoke of her hopes and her endeavours. " Within
me there is a battle. . . . Ochino's words fill me with the
love of Paradise, but at the same time I feel the love of
this world and of its glory. How shall I escape from this
conflict, and to which shall I yield ? Should I make both
inclinations agree, or must I give up one ?"
Valdds comforts her with the assurance that this turmoil
of the spirit is the first sign of the growth of grace within
her. He does not hope to lead her to perfection at once,
but wishes her to arrive there by degrees, neither weakened
by haste nor kept back by negligence.
" The Law has wounded you, the Gospel will heal you.
My only fear is that you will try to regulate your Christian
* See Appendix, note g.
141
A PRINCESS OF THE
life in such a manner that those around you will not per-
ceive the change. . . ."
Giulia confesses that she still loves certain idle
pastimes, to lay aside which would, she fears, lead to
melancholy. . . .
Valdes replies : " You must lay aside these gradually,
and the more you learn of Divine things, the less you will
be drawn towards those of passing shows. But you must
make your choice between God and the world. This is
the way of perfection : Love God above all things and
your neighbour as yourself."
Then follows a brief discussion on the value of monas-
tic life, which Valdes asserts is only of use when adopted
from the pure love of God. " As fire is needed to give
heat, so living faith can alone produce charity. Faith is
the tree, charity is the fruit. . . ."
Giulia asks concerning the way of salvation, and re-
ceives the reply : " Three ways lead to that heavenly
knowledge : the light of Nature, which teaches us the
omnipotence of God; the Old Testament, which shows
us the Creator as the hater of iniquity ; and, last and
greatest, the way of light — the master-way — the love of
Christ. ...""'
Giulia asks concerning alms, and is told : " There is no
other rule than that of charity ; love God, and you will
know how to give your alms." Then, about prayer, he
says that " spoken prayer often kindles and elevates the
mind to earnest prayer of the soul. ..."
Giulia : " One word more. You speak of Christian
liberty. How am I to use it ?"
Valdes : " The true Christian is free from the tyranny
of the law, from sin and death, and is absolute master of
his affections and desires. He is free as regards the spirit,
142
ITALIAN REFORMATION
acknowledging no other superior than God ; while, as to
the body, he is the servant of all for Christ's sake."
This is only a very slight sketch of the conversation
between Giulia and Valdes, which was the foundation of
that book of Christian teaching, the " Alfabeto Cristiano,"
so valuable in spreading the principles of reform in Italy.
We are especially struck with the almost heroic humility
of the great lady, Giulia Gonzaga, who was willing — nay,
eager — to cast aside all the pomp and glory of her high
estate, and appear before the world as a lowly pupil
hanging upon the words of her Christian teacher. Like
her visionary ancestor, the Magi- King Balthazar, Giulia
was willing to brave every peril in search of the Truth,
and when the guiding star had led her to the manger-
throne of Bethlehem, she adored the Christ in simple
faith.
Her stirring life of romance and adventure, of varied
study, and intellectual intercourse with the finest spirits
of the day, had mellowed and enriched her mind ; while
through loss and sorrow she had early* won a rare
fortitude, which was in time to come to be put to the
proof by cruel persecution. Eager and strenuous in all
things, hers was the spirit of that early mystic who saw
in a vision an angel bearing in one hand a flaming torch,
and in the other a vase of water — with the first to burn
down the bowers of Paradise, and with the other to extin-
guish the flames of Hell, that henceforth men be not
guided by hope or fear, but solely by the love of God.
From this time forth Giulia Gonzaga devoted her life
to active works of charity. She passed her days in visiting
the sick in hospitals, tending them with her own hands ;
in relieving the poor, and especially caring for the little
* In this year, 1536, Giulia was barely twenty-three.
143
A PRINCESS OF THE
children. "Avoiding the acquaintance of mere worldly
persons, she took part in the meetings of a select society,
mostly under the influence of Vald6s, who considered
religious subjects and made a constant study of the Holy
Scriptures — that volume of heavenly refreshment, the
aliment of the perfect." As Ariosto's biographer says:
" Hora spende tutto il tempo in pensier santi, rivolgendole
Scritture sacre con puro e sincero petto."*
Juan de Valdes took up his abode in the quarter of
Chiaja, which was then completely in the country, although
so near Naples ; and here it was his custom to receive on
Sundays a certain number of his most intimate friends,
on that lovely shore overlooking the Bay of Naples,
perhaps the most beautiful spot in the world — at least,
so it seemed to the loving memory of those who were
privileged to meet there. The day began with a simple
breakfast, after which the friends walked in the garden
and enjoyed the exquisite scenery. They then returned
to the house, where Valdes read aloud some " Divine
Consideration " which he had been thinking of during
the week, and concerning which he trusted that he had
a clearer illumination of heavenly truth. After dinner,
when the servants were dismissed for the afternoon,
religious subjects were suggested by one of the company,
and discussed with him.
From these conversations sprang that wonderful book,
" Le cento et dieci divine consideratione." It was first
written in Spanish, then translated into Italian, and for
some time was circulated amongst his followers in manu-
script. It was published at Basle in 1550, and it is very
interesting to find that it was translated into English by
* Simon Fornari in " La spositione sopra 1' Orlando Furioso." In
Firenze, 1549.
144
GIULIA GONZAGA (reputed).
Sebastiano del Piombo.
In the Longford Castle Gallery
By kind permission of Lord Radnor.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Nicholas Ferrar, and published at Oxford in 1638, en-
riched with full notes by George Herbert. Ferrar had
met with the book while travelling in Spain, and sent it
to his friend, who thus writes from —
" Bemberton, near Salisbury,
"September 29, 1632.
"... I wish you by all means to publish it [" The
Divine Considerations"], for these three eminent things
observable therein : First, that God, in the midst of
Popery, should open the eyes of one to understand and
express so clearly and excellently the intent of the Gospel
in the acceptation of Christ's righteousness (as he showeth
throughout all his considerations)— a thing strangely
buried and darkened by the Adversaries and their great
stumbling-block.
" Secondly, the great honour and reverence which he
everywhere bears towards our dear Master and Lord, con-
cluding every ' Consideration ' almost with His holy name
and setting forth His merit so piously; for the which I do
so love him, that were there nothing else I would print it,
that with it the honour of my Lord might be published.
" Thirdly, the many pious rules of ordering our life,
about mortification and observation of God's kingdom
within us, and the working thereof, of which he was a
very diligent observer. . . .
" George Herbert."
It will give some idea of the sincerity and earnestness
of the teaching of Vald£s to quote one of the many letters
which he wrote to the Signora Giulia Gonzaga, sending
her, as was his custom, his last work in manuscript —
those Epistles of St. Paul translated from the Hebrew
into Spanish, with his own illuminating notes :
MS I0
A PRINCESS OF THE
" To the Most Illustrious Lady Giulia Gonzaga.
" Being persuaded, Illustrious Lady, that the continual
reading of the Psalms of David, which I sent you last
year, translated from Hebrew into Spanish, has formed
your mind to so pious and confident a trust in God that
you can leave everything in His hands as David did ;
desiring that you may go forward, and that there should
be formed in you a mind as firm, perfect, and constant
as that of St. Paul in the things belonging to the Gospel,
I now send you these Epistles of St. Paul translated from
Greek into Spanish, the continual reading of which will,
I feel sure, contribute greatly to your progress in spiritual
edification, provided however, you do not read from
curiosity or vanity, as men do who are without piety,
thinking thereby to serve God : setting themselves to read
St. Paul as a Spaniard would do to speak Greek, with the
view of pleasing a Greek Emperor . . . you should imitate
St. Paul inasmuch as you see that he imitates Christ.
Strive to be more like Christ and like God, and thus
recover the image and likeness of God in which the first
man was created. ... I only wish you to hold up David
and St. Paul as patterns, so long as your mind is not able
to take as your patterns Christ and God."
146
ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER XII
Desire for reform of the Church in Italy, but not for separation from
Rome — Earnest awakening of religious zeal, in which great
ladies take part : Giulia Gonzaga, Vittoria Colonna, Renee of
Ferrara, Costanza d' Avalos, Isabella Brisegna of Manrique, and
others — Wonderful results of the teaching of Valdes at Naples —
Effect of his religious works (no Considerations, etc.) upon
Giulia Gonzaga, Cardinal Pole, Pietro Carnesecchi, Sadoleto,
Contarini, Morone, Bernardino Ochino, Peter Martyr, and the
whole circle of Vittoria Colonna at Viterbo — Death of Juan
Valdes, in 1541, at Naples.
The burning need of religious reform was no new feeling
in Italy in the days of Giulia Gonzaga. In the fourteenth
century another brave and pious woman, St. Catherine of
Siena, had dared to write : " You turn the Ten Command-
ments into one — ' Bring us money !' Rome is a gulf of
hell, where the Devil presides and sells the benefits which
Christ acquired by His Passion, whence comes the
proverb :
" ' Curia romana non petit ovem sine lana ;
Dantes exaudit ; non dantibus ostia claudit.' "
And a preacher, ending his sermon with the usual appeal
for " abundant alms," made the finest involuntary satire :
" You ask me, dearest brethren, the way to Paradise ?
The monastery bells teach it you with their ringing cry,
' Give ! give ! give !' " (or in the more rhythmical Italian,
"Dan-do! dan-do! dan-do!").
147
A PRINCESS OF THE
As Addington Symonds * well states the point : " Italian
reformers became convinced of the necessity of a return
to the simple elements of Christianity in creed and con-
duct. They considered a thoroughgoing reform of the
hierarchy of all Catholic institutions to be indispensable.
They leaned, moreover, with partiality to some of the
essential tenets of the Reformation — notably the doctrine
of justification by faith and salvation by the merits of
Christ, and also to the doctrine that Scripture is the sole
authority in matters of belief and discipline. Thus both
the Cardinals Morone, Contarini, and others . . . who
imbibed the teaching of Valdes in Naples, fell under the
suspicion of heterodoxy on these points. But it was
characteristic of the members of this school that they
had no will to withhold allegiance from the Pope as Chief
of Christendom. They shrank with horror from the
thought of encouraging a schism, or of severing themselves
from the communion of Catholics."
Most memorable in the early days of the Italian
Reformation were those soul-stirring meetings for reli-
gious study and discussion held by Valdes in his beautiful
retreat at Chiaja. Here were gathered together all the
most cultured, the most devout, and the noblest char-
acters of the day : great ladies — Giulia Gonzaga ; Vittoria
Colonna, an occasional visitor, and ever in constant touch
with all the writings of Valdes ; Costanza d' Avalos,
Duchess of Amain ; her kinswoman, Caterina Cibo,
Duchess of Camerino, niece of three Popes (Innocent
VIII., Leo X., and Clement VII.) ; Isabella Brisegna
Manrique, wife of Garzia Manrique, Governor of Piacenza,
and sister-in-law of the famous Inquisitor Manrique, and
others. Amongst the goodly company of men, we find
* " Renaissance in Italy."
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Pietrantonio di Capua, Archbishop of Otranto ; Pietro
Paolo Vergerio, Bishop of Capo d' Istria ; Bartolommeo
Spadaforo of Messina, a friend of Vittoria Colonna ;
Marcantonio Flaminio, the well-known poet, who trans-
lated various books of Valdes into Italian ; his friend,
Gian Francesco d' Alois (II Caserta) ; Giangaleazzo
Caracciolo, nephew of Paul IV. ; Donato Rullo, a friend
of Cardinal Pole ; Mario Galeotto, an Academician ; Don
Placido de Sanguine, Principal of the Academy of Sereni ;
Pietro Martire Vermigli, and many others, amongst whom
not the least important was Pietro Carnesecchi, who paid
a visit to Giulia Gonzaga in 1540, and was by her intro-
duced to Valdes. D. Germano Minadois and Sigismondo
Mignoz, Governors of the Hospital for Incurables, Giulia's
most-beloved charity, must also be mentioned as earnest
disciples of Valdes.
With what loving affection those who were privileged to
join these peaceful reunions of his looked back upon them
in after days, may be gathered from a letter of Giacomo
Bonfadio, the historian, written to the Protonotary
Carnesecchi who was then at Florence, after the death of
Valdes :
"To Monsignor Carnesecchi.
" Lago di Gakda.
"... I hear that you have been ill. . . . May God
preserve your life as the Romans took care of that statue
which fell from heaven, and He will do it for the benefit of
many, so that one of the brightest lights of Tuscan virtue
may not be extinguished. I beseech you, therefore, my
lord, with God's help, attend to your recovery and enjoy
your wonted cheerfulness, as in the days when we were at
Naples. Would that we were now in that happy com-
pany ! I know your ardent longing for that fair country,
149
A PRINCESS OF THE
and how often Chiaja and the beautiful Posilipo are in
your thoughts. I cannot deny that Florence is beautiful,
but the charm of Naples, with its lovely shore and eternal
Spring, far excels. There Nature rules with more en-
trancing sway, filling the land with joy and gladness. If
you were now at the windows of that lonely tower, so often
praised by us, looking round upon those sunny gardens and
beyond on the spacious bosom of that smiling sea, a
thousand vital spirits would refresh your heart. I remem-
ber when you left, how you promised to return and prayed
me also to do so.
" Would to God that we could recall those happy days !
But where should we go now that Signor Vald6s is dead ?
This has been a great loss for us and for the world ; for
Signor Valdes was one of the rare men of Europe. The
writings which he has left us give full proof of this. He
was, without doubt, both in words and actions and in all
his counsels, a most perfect man. He devoted an atom
only of his mind to the care of his feeble, emaciated body ;
the greater part of his most pure intellect was always
raised to the contemplation of truth and of divine
things. . . .
"GlACOMO BONFADIO."
There was one of Valdes' disciples who perhaps spread
his doctrines more than any other. This was the Friar
Bernardino Ochino, whose sermons had such marvellous
influence, as we have already seen, and who was the
special guide and teacher of Vittoria Colonna. Three
years after the Emperor had listened to him with so much
veneration in the Advent of 1536, he was invited to return
to Naples in 1539 to preach during Lent in the Cathedral
dedicated to San Gennaro, and his saintly reputation drew
150
ITALIAN REFORMATION
crowds to hear him, until the stately building was filled
almost to suffocation. He had now waxed bolder in his
preaching, thundering in strong, impassioned language
against luxury and vice, and then with soft, persuasive
eloquence dwelling on the truths of the Gospel, and the
joy and happiness of walking in the love of God and in the
ways of holiness. He touched upon points which had
hitherto been considered too sacred for outspoken words —
of justification, faith, works, the power of the Pope, pur-
gatory. Men began to see that in the Gospel all were
invited to share its blessings. "Then the unlearned
artisan, and even the women, ventured to converse upon
the words of the Bible and to compare one text with
another. . . .* This spiritual awakening spread so much
that numbers began to consult the Scriptures as the sole
authority in matters of faith."
This was remarkable freedom of speech for one who had
been elected Vice- General of his Franciscan Order the
previous year. The Viceroy of Naples, Toledo, was much
disturbed, and he caused a number of books which he sus-
pected of evangelical and heretical tendencies to be
collected in bundles and burnt publicly before the gate of
the Archbishop's palace. In order to crush all liberty of
conscience, he also issued a decree forbidding all religious
books published within the last twenty-five years to be
reprinted. But these repressive acts were only distant
threatenings of the coming storm of persecution.
Meantime the abode of Valdes at Chiaja was a haven of
peace, and a meeting-place for many kindred spirits to hold
religious converse together. Here Giulia Gonzaga came
for those intervals of rest so soothing after her stirring life,
* " Storia di Antonino Castaldo," apud Giannone, " Storia di
Napoli," lib. xxxii., p. 179.
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to which she thus alludes in one of her letters to Juan de
Valdes : " Many years have I lived in the manner I
describe . . . and during this time, as you know, various
things have befallen me, enough to disturb a tranquil
spirit, and more especially a soul so disquieted as mine."
To this same source of refreshment she never failed to
bring all her friends who came to visit her at Naples, and
here many earnest men drew their inspiration for the
Reformed doctrines, which they preached not in Italy
alone, but when driven thence by persecution throughout
all Europe. We have seen how Pietro Carnesecchi,
destined in the end to suffer a martyr's death for his faith,
was here introduced to Valdes, and took him henceforth for
his spiritual teacher. It was the same with Fra Bernar-
dino Ochino, and also with a great friend of his, whose
name is most familiar to us in England.
Pietro Martire Vermigli, of Lucca, better known as
" Peter Martyr," so called by his parents, as before his
birth he was consecrated to St. Peter Martyr (put to death
by the Arians). He early joined the Austin Canons at
Fiesole, and became well versed in the Scriptures ; then he
was made Abbot of Spoleto, and afterwards Prior of the
great house of San Pietro ad aram at Naples. Here it was
that he met Valdes, and was greatly influenced by him.
He was a marvellous preacher, and the people thronged to
hear him ; but when he explained the First Epistle of
the Corinthians, on which the doctrine of Purgatory was
supposed to be founded, as simply a figurative allusion to
the entire consumption of all merit outside Christ, the
Viceroy took alarm, and he was forbidden to preach. But
Pietro appealed to Rome, and had such powerful friends
that the prohibition was removed, and he was made Vicar-
General of his Order. After Valdes' death, Pietro Martire
was taken seriously ill with fever, of which his friend
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Benedetto Casano died, and he left Naples to become
Prior of San Frediano at Lucca. In later years, when
threatened with cruel persecution, he joined in the flight of
Fra Bernardino Ochino, and ultimately came to England,
where, in the reign of Edward VI., he was made Regius
Professor of Divinity at Oxford.
Knowing Pedro de Toledo's strong feeling against all
Reformed doctrine, we are not surprised to hear that
through his brother, Fra Gia de Toledo, the Archbishop,
those devout gatherings at Chiaja were at length put an end
to. Not long afterwards, in 1541, the great teacher Valdes
himself was taken ill with fever, which his delicate frame
could not resist, and to the deepest sorrow of his friends
and disciples, he passed away to his rest. Pietrantonio di
Capua, Archbishop of Otranto, attended him on his death-
bed with loving reverence and affection.
It will be convenient to mention here in order the works
of Valdes, upon which rests his great reputation as a leader
of the Reformation in Italy. He was first known by a
curious " Dialogue " written in 1521, when he was in Spain,
and published with the famous " Lactantio " of his twin-
brother, Alfonzo de Valdes, which was so bitterly opposed
by Baldassare Castiglione, as champion of the Church and
her rulers. In this " Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron " there
was an attack upon abuses, political and religious, Mer-
cury and Charon being made to discuss with the souls of
the departed their religious life and the affairs of the
world which they had just left. A strange procession we
watch advancing towards the banks of the Styx : Bishops,
cardinals, kings, theologians, all still full of their earthly
pomp, and each one quite unconsciously being brought
into an atmosphere of truth, reveals the whole of the
motives and desires of his life, and a terrible revelation it
usually is ! On the other hand, there are some few, mostly
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A PRINCESS OF THE
women, whose works on earth are worthy of all praise.
But the last who comes by, a nun, would have been
questioned by Mercury had not Charon hastily checked
him. " Do you not see it is a woman and a nun ? If she
once begins, there will be no end to it !"
It was not long after this book was published that we
find Juan de Valdes glad to make his escape from Spain,
where more severity to any idea of reform was shown
than in any other country, the Inquisition having been
established there as early as 1477, chiefly then with regard
to Moors and Jews. Valdes was still in favour with the
Emperor, who obtained his appointment as secretary to
Pietro de Toledo when he was made Imperial Viceroy of
Naples. He was a man of great learning and literary
facility, and for several years — between- April, 1534, and
September, 1536 — he devoted himself to a scientific study
of the Spanish language, under the title of " Dialogo de
la lengua." It was at this time that the society of Giulia
Gonzaga and her friends encouraged him to more definite
religious teaching, and he wrote the " Alfabeto Cristiano,"
in the form of question and answer between Giulia and
himself, which has already been alluded to, and which
was circulated in manuscript amongst his friends as a
precious gem of Christian teaching. It was translated
from Spanish into Italian by Marcantonio Magno, who
managed '. the business affairs of Giulia Gonzaga. This
was the full title :
" Alfabeto Cristiano,
che insegna la vera
via d' acquiscare
il lume dello Spi-
rito Santo."
" Stampata. 1' anno MDXLVI."
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
We know very little about this Marcantonio Magno,
but he had two sons, Celio and Alessandro, who were
both fair poets. He was himself a man of literary tastes,
and some of his letters are preserved.
As for the great work of Valdes, the " Cento e dieci
divine consideratione," this also was passed from one
hand to another in manuscript copies, and was not pub-
lished until about twenty years later, when Pietro Paolo
Vergerio, Bishop of Capodistria, carried the precious manu-
script safely to Hamburg in 1558. As we have seen, it
was translated into English by Nicholas Ferrar. " In
this beautiful work Valdes preaches such purity of
intention and thought, such sacrifice of mere distinction
of rank and honour, such quiet suffering of injury, such a
manner of beholding Christ in God, and again God in
Christ, as clearly to show that the religion of Valdes — his
religion of the heart — was indeed the religion of the New
Testament. It was so in its spiritual meaning, and this
brought him to receive the doctrine of Justification by
Faith alone, in a deeper and more intimate manner than
that of Luther. . . . This Valdes taught to others in the
name of his Divine Master, in the dwelling-house, or
walking by the way, and often for those who had an ear
to hear, by parable. ..."
Other works of Valdes were translations of the Psalms
from the original Hebrew, the Gospel of St. Matthew, and
the Epistles to the Romans from the Greek. Of this last,
it is interesting to know that Michelangelo loved to hear
it read aloud in the company of Vittoria Colonna in the
Convent of San Silvestro at Monte Cavallo. Almost all
these writings of Valdes were dedicated to the Lady
Giulia Gonzaga, to whom he owed so much for her
unfailing interest and keen sympathy. To this devout
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A PRINCESS OF THE
evangelical mystic, " Justification by Faith " was the
expression of the fact that only by self-abnegation could
men receive the Divine illumination, and thus conform to
the image of God in which they were made.
We find one of the most startling illustrations of the
enthusiasm aroused by the teaching of V aides in the
immense success of a book written by one of his disciples,
" II Beneficio della morte di Cristo." This is believed to
have been the work of a Benedictine monk — Benedetto of
Mantua — who dwelt in his monastery at the foot of Mount
Etna.* At the monk's request, Marcantonio Flaminio,
the distinguished poet, revised the " little golden book,"
as Vergerio called it, which was first given to friends in
manuscript in 1540, and printed later at Venice and at
Rome in 1544, to the number of 40,000 copies, and
spread broadcast throughout Italy. " Nothing was ever
printed so simply pious and simple, or so adapted to teach
the weak and ignorant, especially in the matter of ' Justi-
fication by Faith.' "t
The book consists of six chapters, and begins with
man's state before he sinned, describes his condition after-
wards, points out the purpose of the Jewish dispensation,
and asserts that " Justification, remission of sins, and our
entire salvation depend upon Christ alone." Origen,
Basil, Ambrose, Hilary, Augustine, and Bernard are
quoted, to show their works contain the same joyful truth
of a free salvation without the works of the Law. The
"Beneficio" was put upon the Index in 1549 by Mon-
signor della Cosa, Nuncio at Venice. A bookseller at
* The authorship has been disputed, for some writers maintain
that " Trattato utilissimo del Beneficio di Cristo crucifisso . . ." by
Aonio Paleario, is the same book.
f Vergerio.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Venice, Antonio Gadaldino, was treated as a "thorough
heretic, for he sold many copies of this most pernicious
book which taught Justification by Faith alone, imputed
through the merits of Christ in the Lutheran style . . .
so precious to the heretics that they printed it many
times, and the said Gadaldino not only sold, but also
reprinted it."
It has been called the " Credo " of the Italian Reforma-
tion, and the Inquisition made such a determined effort
to stamp it out, that for some time it was believed that
every copy had been destroyed.* If this was the dealing
of that dread tribunal against the written and printed
word, far more terrible was its sentence against the brave
men and women who dared to proclaim their faith.
Deeply as the loss of Vald^s was felt by his friends, they
cannot fail to have realized later that he had been taken
from the evil to come, and the dark days of approaching
persecution, for only the next year, 1542, the Inquisition
was started in Rome.
One immediate result of the death of Vald^s was that
many of his disciples joined for a time the famous reunion
at Viterbo, carried on much in the same manner as the
earlier Oratorio of Divine Love which had been started
before at Rome, under the very eyes of the Pope. At
this time Vittoria Colonna had taken up her abode in
the picturesque hill-town, only thirty miles from Rome ; a
healthy change from the closer air of the Eternal City,
and noteworthy for its high battlemented towers, but,
above all, for the Benedictine Convent of St. Catherine of
Alexandria, which Vittoria made her home for the next
three years, 1541-1544. Here she found herself in the
* A most precious original copy was discovered in the Library of
St. John's College, Cambridge, and several others are in existence.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
midst of a circle of earnest thinkers who were deeply
interested in Church reform and the new influences of the
teaching of Vald6s and others, without ceasing to be, in
many cases, loyal sons of the Church. Her most intimate
friend at this time was Cardinal Pole, whom the Pope had
made Legate, and Governor of Viterbo, including the
province of ancient Etruria, which had been bequeathed
to the Papal See by Matilda, Countess of Tuscany, in
1115. Their friendship was already of some years' dura-
tion, for when Reginald Pole went to Rome in 1536, he
saw that the Lady Vittoria was injuring her health by too
much fasting and mortification of the flesh, and he
reminded her of St. Paul's admonition to Timothy —
" Corporalis exercitatio admodum valet ad pietatum " —
and that "the Christian is bound to take care of the
tabernacle of his body until it pleases God to release him
from it."
" So that lady began to mitigate the austerity of her
life, and brought it little by little, to a reasonable and
honest moderation." As Vittoria wrote later to Giulia
Gonzaga about the Cardinal : " I, therefore, who owe the
health of my soul and that of my body to his Illustrissimo
Reverendissimo, for the one through superstition and the
other through ill-government stood in peril, I could not but
wish, as your Excellence may imagine, to be able to serve
him. . . ." — Dated December 8, 1542. (The service
proved to be the adoption of Pole as her son.)*
It was at the palace of the Cardinal that were held the
daily gatherings of a most distinguished company for
the study of religious doctrine, and one of the books
which they discussed with interest and delight was the
* Miller, " Carteggio di' Vittoria Colonna," Appendix I., p. 239.
Ferrara.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
" Beneficio," which set forth so clearly the teaching
of Vald6s. As the Cardinal himself says : " The rest of
the day I spend in the good and useful company of
Signor Carnesecchi, and our Messer Marcantonio Flaminio
. . . who gives me a portion of that food which does not
perish, in such a manner that I do not remember ever
having received greater consolation and edification. . . ."
Pole once said to Vittoria : " Believe as firmly as if your
salvation depended on Faith alone ; act as if good works
were all-sufficient."
Pietro Carnesecchi was born in 1508 of a noble
Florentine family. He was educated in Rome in the
house of Cardinal Dovizzi, and entered the Papal service.
Under Clement VII. he was made " Protonotary Apostolic,"
and his influence was so great that it was commonly said
that " he was Pope rather than Clement." As we have
seen, a visit to Giulia Gonzaga in 1540 brought him into
the society of V aides, whom he had known at Rome. In
later days, Carnesecchi plays so large a part in the life
of the Countess of Fondi, that we shall meet him again.
Much of the information we have with regard to the
Reformed movement is taken from the archives of the
great trial of Carnesecchi before the Inquisition of Rome,
for most of his companions at Naples and Viterbo were
condemned by that stern tribunal, whether they were
living or dead.
Marcantonio Flaminio, mentioned above in Pole's letter
with such warm praise, was born in 1498 at Imola. He
was educated with great care by his learned father,
Giannantonio, to whom we are indebted for twelve
volumes of Letters, the Lives of many saints of the preach-
ing order, a " Dialogue on the Education of Children," a
" Treatise on the Origin of Philosophy," a Latin Grammar,
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A PRINCESS OF THE
and other works. Under such a teacher, Marcantonio
was early distinguished for his learning, and at an early
age his Latin poems attracted the attention of Leo X.,
who was anxious to keep him at his Court. The young
poet made the acquaintance of Castiglione at Urbino in
1515; he continued his studies at Bologna, and returned
in 1 5 19 to Rome, where he became an intimate friend
of Molza, and served under the " Datario " Giberti, with
whom he travelled through Italy. Being obliged to leave
Rome on account of his health, he went to Naples in
1539, where he numbered amongst his friends Giulia
Gonzaga, Ochino, Vergerio, Carnesecchi, and the other
disciples of Valdfe. He soon devoted himself to active
propagation of the Reformed doctrines, and when he went
to Viterbo, after the death of Valdds, he kept up an
interesting correspondence with Giulia, to whom he
dedicated his translations of their master's works.
Flaminio's friend, the poet Francesco Caserta, famous
alike for his goodness and his talent, also joined the band
of religious students, and remained faithful to the end,
sealing his faith by martyrdom in 1564.
One of the most important members of the reunion
at Viterbo was Cardinal Contarini, a great friend of
Vittoria Colonna, who wrote many letters to him. He
was a man of such high distinction that Paul III. made
him a Cardinal at his first creation in 1534, and he also
had formed one of the Company of Divine Love in Rome.
This was never forgotten by Caraffa, who soon began
to suspect his former associates of heresy, and when he
became Pope under the name of Paul IV., he turned
upon them all the terrors of the Inquisition. Gasparo
Contarini was one of that band of prelates who laboured
with all his energies to reform the Church from within.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
He tried to stir up Paul III. to this work by assuring
him that " the Papacy was a monarchy, not a tyranny."
In the summer of 1536 the Pope was induced to appoint
a commission of nine to report on needful reforms. One
of these was Giovanni Morone, who, as Nuncio in
Germany, had declared that if the Church was to be saved
in that country, reform was absolutely necessary. Con-
tarini, Sadoleto, Pole, and Federigo Fregoso were amongst
the number, and it has been well said that " such a union
of scholarship and holiness of life, with zeal for practical
reform, was most rare in any Church congress." Un-
fortunately, this work met with no success.
In November, 1538, Contarini, who was Papal Secre-
tary, travelled to Ostia with the Pope, and wrote to Pole :
" Our good old man made me sit by his side, and talked
about reform, so as to raise our hopes. . . ." But they
were never realized, although Cardinal Contarini was sent
to the Colloquy ; for no concord was possible between
Rome and evangelical Germany, and Contarini, who was
the real soul of the movement, left with despair in his
heart at this failure of his efforts at conciliation. He was
rewarded with the government of Bologna, but he had
become suspect to the Catholic party, and he died the
next year, August 24, 1542 — " one of the noblest figures
in an age of great men, and the blessing of the peace-
maker was his." On hearing of his death, Paul III.
remarked with deep feeling : " We have lost a great
Cardinal — -pazienza !"
Cardinal Sadoleto, Bishop of Carpentras, a native of
Modena, had been one of the literary stars at the Court
of Leo X. His broad-minded views expressed in his
Commentary on the Romans, and his friendship with
Erasmus, but, above all, the part he took in these meet-
161 11
A PRINCESS OF THE
ings at Viterbo with Vittoria Colonna, brought him under
the sentence of the Inquisition, but, fortunately for him
and many of his friends, merciful Death spared them the
shame and agony of a heretic's punishment.
Of Cardinal Federigo Fregoso, Archbishop of Salerno,
we have a most delightful account in the " Cortegiano "
of Baldassare Castiglione, in which he is one of the
wisest and most pleasing speakers, full of the ardent
hopes and the chivalry of gallant youth. He was one
of that famous council of nine to consider the reform
of the Church, and we find his name given in the Trial
of Carnesecchi, amongst the roll-call of "heretics," the
accusation being that he " visited the Marchesa Pescara "
(Vittoria Colonna). There were others whom we have
not space to mention, but those selected were the leading
spirits, and will give a good idea of the peaceful Platonic
assembly at Viterbo, as compared with the militant action
of the Reformers on the other side of the Alps.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER XIII
Concerning the Reformation in Italy — Renee Duchess of Ferrara,
Olympia Morata, and others — Life of Caterina Cibo, who died
1557 at Florence — Persecution and flight of Bernardino Ochino,
Peter Martyr, and others — Giulia Gonzaga, a guiding spirit of
the cause at Naples — Death of Madonna Antonia del Balzo, 1538,
and the Abate Lodovico, father of Giulia — She then becomes
the guardian of her nephew Vespasiano, son of her brother
Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga.
In the early history of the Reformation in Italy there
is one point deserving of more notice than it usually
receives. We may almost say that wherever a company
of earnest seekers after truth were gathered together,
there we shall find that they centred round some pious
woman of high birth and character. Take the well-known
instance of Ferrara ; there Renee of France, wife of the
Duke Ercole, gave her protection and hospitality to her
own countrymen and others who were driven from their
homes by the violence of religious persecution. Before
leaving France she had taken great interest in these new
doctrines, and had made the acquaintance of various
teachers, but especially of Calvin, who visited her at
Ferrara and gave her a taste of stronger Protestant teach-
ing than was heard elsewhere in Italy. But her husband
soon showed himself in nervous dread of these dangerous
visitors, for he was a fervent Italian and a firm ally of the
Pope, and his opposition was a constant trial to the
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A PRINCESS OF THE
Duchess. She became a great friend of Vittoria Colonna,
who more than once brought the friar, Bernardino
Ochino, to preach in the Duomo of Ferrara, where every-
one crowded to hear him. Renee always remained his
friend, even after his flight, when the Lady Vittoria and
so many others abjured all acquaintance with him. In
alluding to the Court of Ferrara at this time, we cannot
avoid mentioning Olympia Morata, that accomplished and
devoted young girl, who, as a companion to the young
Princess Anna, first acquired that knowledge of the Gospel
which supported her through all the hardships and suffer-
ings which she was called upon later to endure.
But more interesting to us as a friend of Giulia Gonzaga,
and a disciple of Valdes, was Caterina Cibo, the niece of
three-Popes, Innocent VIII., (and, by her mother, of) Leo X.,
and Clement VII. She was also the sister of a Cardinal
and a Bishop. She was born in 1501 in the Villa of
Panzani, near Florence, but was educated for some years
in Rome, the very seat of Catholicism ; was taught Greek,
Latin, and Hebrew, and at the age of twelve was betrothed
to Giovanni Maria Varano, afterwards Duke of Camerino.
Caterina's troubles began in the first year of her
marriage, when Camerino * was attacked by Sigismondo, a
nephew of her husband, and a long and troublesome war
followed. After the birth of her daughter Giulia in 1523,
the Duchess went to Rome, where she was well received
by her uncle Clement VII. who had just become Pope.
Here she first began to take an interest in the subject of
Reform, and used all her influence to save various advanced
thinkers from persecution. She was at Camerino after her
husband's death, when " one July day, in 1528, there came a
* About forty miles south-west of Ancona, on the way to
Foligno.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
Capuchin friar, who went through the city with a crowd
of children, crying with a loud voice, ' Misericordia' !"
The preacher took up his abode in the palace of the
Duchess Caterina, and from that time she declared herself
openly on the side of the reform of the Church, and
became one of the most advanced leaders of the Protestant
movement of that time.
The Duchy of Camerino had been settled on her after
the death of the Duke, but here in the Castello she was
attacked by her husband's nephew, who succeeded in
taking it by surprise. When the Duchess was in his
power, he used every persuasion to induce her to give him
her daughter in marriage. But this Caterina absolutely
refused, as Giulia was betrothed to Guidobaldo, the son of
the Duke of Urbino. As persuasion had failed, young
Varano tried force, and threatened to kill her at once if she
persisted in her refusal. But she, " with a strong heart
and courage worthy of eternal fame, not only remained
firm, but seeing that he stood over her with a drawn sword
in his upraised arm, she fell on her knees, raised her veil,
and leaning her neck towards her assailant, she recom-
mended her soul to God." Meantime the city had been
roused, Varano thought better of his plan, and retired from
the city, taking Caterina with him. However, he had gone
scarcely two miles when he was overtaken, the Duchess
was rescued, and he barely succeeded in making his
escape. In a letter to her brother the Cardinal, Caterina
Cibo says that " it seems like a dream . . . that sixty
persons should attack Camerino and take me prisoner
without any interference, should set me free without say-
ing a word to me, and escape without being caught by any-
one . . . and for this I render thanks to God that all has
ended so well."
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A PRINCESS OF THE
This gallant lady kept her word and carried out her
promise, for in 1534 her daughter was married to Guido-
baldo della Rovere, the grandson of Isabella d' Este, of
whom we are told, as a child, when his parents the Duke
and Duchess of Urbino were exiles at Mantua: "Their
little son ... is the cleverest and most charming child in
the world. He talks boldly of all the great things he will
do, and says, ' If Pope Leo had come by himself, he could
never have taken my father's State !' and says other
things which make us all marvel, since he is only just two
years old." *
We are told that " Caterina Cibo was not only adorned
by her outward beauty . . . which did not count as com-
pared with her marvellous goodness and brilliant talent.
She knew four languages — Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and our
Tuscan — and understood them thoroughly, and was not
only a student of letters and humanities, but also of sacred
theology, as for this purpose she acquired the Hebrew lan-
guage that she might study the sacred Bible in Hebrew,
and she made use of the commentaries of the doctors in
Greek, besides applying herself to philosophy, so that she
was a mirror of learning and religion." t She gave up
Camerino to her daughter- and son-in-law,J and spent the
the rest of her life at Florence, where she continued to
enjoy the society of learned and religious men. Marcan-
tonio Flaminio was a great friend of hers, and from his
correspondence we gather that the Duchess had adopted
the teaching of Valdes, held by Giulia Gonzaga and
Vittoria Colonna on the subject of "Justification by
Faith," and she asked Carnesecchi to recommend evange-
lists to her.
* Letter of Ippolito Calandra to Francesco Gonzaga.
t Serdonata in his " Life of Caterina Cibo."
% Paul III. soon took possession of Camerino.
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
In the Trials of the Inquisition a special accusation
was made against Caterina Cibo — " Ducissa Camerini
hasretica sectatrix hsereticorum et doctrix monialium
hsereticorum," the nuns whom she thus led astray being
those of St. Martha outside Florence. Other charges
against her were that Ochino dedicated to her certain
religious dialogues, in four of which she is made to take
part. It was in her house, as we shall see, that Ochino
renounced the cowl, and wrote the famous letter to
Vittoria Colonna. Fortunately for the brave lady, she died
before the darkest hour of the Inquisition, in 1557, at
Florence.
We have already seen the religious activity of Vittoria
Colonna, Marchesa of Pescara, alike at Rome and at
Viterbo. Yet earnest and devoted as she was, this great
lady shrank from any action or expression which would
place her outside the pale of the Roman Church, and she
at once gave up any friends who, by flight or otherwise,
became suspect ; there is, therefore, somewhat of the irony
of fate in her condemnation for heresy, in the Trials of
the Inquisition, held after her death. The unorthodoxy
of all her religious friends is brought up against her ; the
views held by her brother Ascanio, by the Cardinals Pole,
Morone, Bembo, Contarini, and other less exalted persons,
are used as evidence against her, until the mere fact of
" having visited the Marchesa di Pescara " is almost
enough to warrant a charge of heresy, so that even the
poor nuns of St. Catherine of Viterbo did not escape. Of
her true piety and deep religious feeling we have many
records in her letters, her sonnets, and perhaps, above all,
in a beautiful Latin prayer — a touching petition for peace
and happiness which is too characteristic to forget.
We now return to Naples, where Giulia Gonzaga was so
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A PRINCESS OF THE
long the leading spirit of the religious movement, and was
well supported by other pious and devoted women.
Amongst these was Costanza d' Avalos, a cousin of Vittoria
Colonna, and wife of Alfonso Piccolimini, Duke of Amain
— spoken of as "a lady of great piety and a disciple of
Valdes at Naples." Her life had not been a happy one.
Her husband was a man wanting in firmness and strength
of character, who found himself unable to do justice to the
important position of Captain-General of Siena, and he
was dismissed in 1541. His career was now at an end,
and he spent his remaining years in stately exile, making
his home in the island of Nisida, near Naples. This was
the " Nesis " of Strabo, an ancient volcanic crater, and
Cicero gives us a touching account of the retirement in a
villa here of Brutus, after the assassination of Caesar,* and of
the parting of Brutus and Portia. Here Costanza dwelt
with her young children Inigo and Vittoria, and wrote
poetry, " rich in noble sentiments and in Christian piety " ;
while she was able to join the religious meetings of Giulia
Gonzaga in the city. After the example of her more
famous cousin, she spent her later years of widowhood in
the Convent of Santa Chiara at Naples, so rich in memories
of many noble families.
We have already made acquaintance with Giulia's
dearest friend, Isabella of Brisegna, the wife of Garzia
Manrique, the Spanish Governor of Piacenza, who was so
cruelly persecuted by her husband. Of Giulia's loving
care and provision for her and of her despairing flight we
shall hear later. Not only were the great ladies attacked
for their religious views, but there was no escape for even
the humblest friends of the Countess of Fondi. In the
* " Phil." x. 4.
168
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Trial before the Inquisition at Rome of Lorenzo Tizzano,
who was for a time Cappellano pvocuratore of the Con-
vent of Santa Francesco, the habitual residence of Giulia,
we find him compelled to confess that a certain Lucrezia
Poggiola, a servant of the Signora, had " often and in
many places held converse with him on matters of religion,
showing her Lutheran views, and the same did Sister
Caterina of the said monastery, and other women. . . ."
From other sources we find suspected of heresy, Sister
Camilla Caracciolo, who was " compelled to formally
make abjuration, and suffer salutary penitence ; and also
Sister Isabella Loffreda, aged nineteen, accused of serious
heresy, against whom sentence was pronounced ... of
cruel torture . . . and other salutary penitence, and she
made full abjuration, at the little door of the Chancel of
the said Monastery. . . ."
Worthy of mention is the Countess Lucrezia Pico,
widow of Claudio Rangone, who, at Modena as early as
1537, was discovered to have in her possession " an
heretical book, without any name of author or publisher,
treating on the Christian faith." This was seized, and as
the lady had influential friends and could not be punished
openly, her enemies spread cruel and malignant reports
about her.
It was in the year 1542 that Fra Bernardino Ochino
and Peter Martyr took the despairing step of flight from
their native land and the scene of their labours, to the
dismay and grief of their followers. Ochino had been
preaching in Venice, where the Papal Nuncio had orders
to watch him closely ; but when his friend Giulio
Terenziano, a teacher of theology and a pupil of Vald6s,
was thrown into prison on account of his religious opinions,
the friar could no longer restrain himself. In a sermon
169
A PRINCESS OF THE
before the Senate and chief men of Venice he cried aloud
in anguish : " Oh, sirs, what remains for us to do ? To
what end do we waste and consume our lives ? If in thee,
O most noble City of Venice, Queen of the Adriatic— if
in thee, I say, those who announce to you the truth are
here imprisoned, shut up in houses of torture, loaded with
chains and fetters, what place then remains to us, what
other field is free for the truth ? Would to God we might
but preach the truth freely ! How many blind eyes would
be opened, and how many stumbling in the dark would be
illuminated !"
From that moment Ochino knew that a sword hung
over his head. He went to Verona, and there, as General
of his Order, he assembled all those whose office it was to
preach, and began a course of lectures on the Epistles of
St. Paul. But he was at once cited to Rome to give an
account of his doctrine. He knew too well what this
meant ; but he made an effort to obey, travelling via
Bologna, where he had a few words with the good
Cardinal Contarini on his deathbed, and then sadly passed
on to Florence. Here he met Peter Martyr, who strongly
advised flight as his only hope of safety, reminding him
of those words : " When they persecute you in one city,
flee to another." * With great anguish of soul, they both
resolved to leave Italy ; and, interesting as were the
friar's adventures, I can only briefly touch upon them.
He was well received at Ferrara by the Duchess Ren6e,
but was not safe there. She strongly advised him to
escape, and he travelled to Geneva — the refuge of the
persecuted — where he preached with great success, and
later visited England for a time. The day before he left
Florence, Ochino wrote a most pathetic letter to his great
* St. Matt. x. 23.
170
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friend, Vittoria Colonna, which shows his character in its
weakness and its strength :
"AugUSi 22, 1542.
" Illustrious Lady,
" I am now in the outskirts of Florence, in no
small anxiety of mind. I have been cited to Rome, and,
against all persuasion, I set forth with the intention of
going there. But, hearing every day fresh accounts of
their mode of proceeding [the Inquisition], I have been
prevailed upon, by Peter Martyr and others, not to go,
lest I should be obliged either to deny Christ or be
crucified. The first I will not do ; for the last I am
willing, through the grace of Christ, but in His own good
time. To go willingly to die I have not courage ; God,
when He chooses, can find me wherever I am. . . .
Besides, what can I do in Italy ? Preach as a suspected
person, and preach Christ obscurely, under a mask ! . . .
For this and other reasons I am compelled to go away ;
for I see that they would examine me by torture, to make
me deny Christ, or else put me to death. If St. Paul were
in my place, I think he would act in the same way. . . .
" Your Ladyship knows what I am, and my doctrine
may be known from those who have heard me. ... It
would have been extremely grateful to me to have your
opinion and that of the Rev mo Monsignor Pole, or a letter
from you. . . . Pray to God for me ; I desire more than
ever to serve Him by the help of His grace. I salute you
all. ..."
But Vittoria Colonna and Cardinal Pole had no pity
for a ruined man, and, horrified by the scandal of Ochino's
flight, they only thought of saving themselves by hurrying
back into the fold of orthodoxy. The great lady, who had
171
A PRINCESS OF THE
looked upon the friar as a saint, wrote thus a little later
to Cardinal Cervini : " It grieves me to think that the
more he seeks to excuse, the more he accuses himself;
and when he thinks he is saving others from shipwreck,
he is only exposing them the more to the deluge, he being
out of the Ark which saves and secures."* The Pope was
furious, and many friends, who considered forsaking Rome
to be a mortal sin, mourned for Ochino as a fallen angel.
He himself was broken-hearted. At the age of fifty-five,
in failing health from his ascetic life and constant labours,
losing all that he loved and desired, exile was to him far
more bitter than death.
The loss of her trusted friends by death and exile was a
terrible blow to the Signora Giulia Gonzaga, but with
gallant courage she rose to the occasion. With unfailing
love and charity, she was ever ready to help the fugitives
for their faith, with her money and influence, and was
henceforth looked upon as the guiding spirit in this centre
of the Italian Reformation.
But another and a most welcome duty was to be laid
upon her, which would prevent her from entirely giving
up all worldly duties and greatness for many years to
come. This was nothing less than the guardianship of
her beloved nephew, Vespasiano Colonna.
As we have seen, on the marriage of his mother with
the Prince of Sulmona, the child was removed to the care
of his grandfather, the Abate Lodovico Gonzaga. This
was early in 1536, and no one rejoiced more than Madonna
Antonia del Balzo, the mother of Lodovico, then in her
ninety-fifth year. The coming of this precious child, the
last and most beloved of her numerous descendants, was
* December 4, 1542. From Santa Caterina, Viterbo (Postscript
of Vittoria's letter).
172
ITALIAN REFORMATION
a final joy to this wonderful old lady, who retained all
her faculties and enjoyment of life to the last. She lived
two years afterwards, and passed away, full of years and
honours, in 1538. Her granddaughter Giulia, who re-
sembled her in so many ways, felt her loss very bitterly ;
one more link with the past was gone from her, who had
already known so many losses.
Madonna Antonia was laid to rest in the Church of
San Pietro, where her sepulchral inscription may still be
seen.* Two years later she was followed to the tomb by
her son Lodovico, on June 14, 1540. In his will the Abate
Lodovico Gonzaga left the guardianship of the young
Vespasiano to his daughter, Giulia Gonzaga Colonna,
as by her second marriage Isabella, Princess of Sulmona,
had lost all right to the care of him. But she was not a
woman to submit, without a bitter contest, to a decree
which would give the charge of her son to Giulia, her
rival. The long and irritating lawsuit between the two
ladies had ultimately been decided in favour of Giulia
Gonzaga, who was willing to make great concessions.
But the dispute had left ill-will behind, and Isabella now
made a furious fight for the guardianship of her son.
Pope Paul III. was appealed to by both sides, and he
wrote a diplomatic letter, saying how " greatly I desire
peace both for your own repose and for the good memory
of the boy's father, who deserved so well of His Holiness
Clement VII. and of the Sede Apostolica. "
The case was ultimately decided in the Court of Justice,
and the verdict of the magistrate was in favour of the
Countess of Fondi. This result was due in great measure
to the devoted influence and assistance of Don Ferrante
Gonzaga, who had secured the best legal pleading, placing
* See Appendix, note 10.
J 73
A PRINCESS OF THE
the claim of Giulia beyond all doubt. As for Isabella,
this was not her only lawsuit, for she appears to have
lived in a constant state of disquiet and litigation. As
early as June 28, 1533, a letter to the Duke of Ferrara
remarks : " Nothing else is talked of but the case of these
Lords Colonna of Rome against the Signora Isabella
Gonzaga. . . ." The Pope seems to have interfered, and
Signor Ascanio gave some security. But there was no
settled peace between the Princess of Sulmona and her
father's kinsmen ; for again, on March 7 of the year 1566,
we read in a letter from Rome : " Signora Isabella leaves
at once, with all her family, for Rome, where she comes
to plead against Signor Marcantonio Colonna concern-
ing certain castles which are in the Campagna of Rome,
and which have been for many years consigned to the
Papal Envoy ; for she has licence from the King, and a
promise from the Pope that she shall receive justice."
As for her husband's relations in Lombardy, Isabella
offended them so deeply by her ill-advised attempt to
assert her rights, almost immediately after Luigi Rodo-
monte's death, that they prayed her never to return.
It was with great delight and satisfaction that Signora
Giulia undertook the charge of her dearly^beloved nephew,
upon whom, having no children of her own, she bestowed
more than a mother's love. It was her hope and ambition
to bring him up with so noble a training and education as
to be worthy of his father and of the House of Gonzaga.
When the case had been decided in her favour, Giulia
lost no time in sending her Procurator, Messer Marcan-
tonio Magno, to the Court of the Emperor, to obtain for
Vespasiano the investiture of his States in Lombardy,
appointing as Surrogates Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and
174
ITALIAN REFORMATION
his brother, Don Ferrante Gonzaga, then Viceroy of
Sicily. This investitute was granted by Charles V., duly
signed and sealed on September 6, 1541, and the heir's
succession to all the dominions of his father Luigi and his
grandfather Lodovico was proclaimed.
175
A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER XIV
1541 — Giulia Gonzaga at Naples, devotes herself to the education of
Vespasiano, her nephew and her ward — She is painted by Titian
— Giulia writes to Charles V. on behalf of Vespasiano — He is
appointed page to the Archduke Philip — Marriage schemes for
him — Giulia visits her home in Lombardy, 1546 — Her stay at
Gazzuolo ; many changes — Madonna Antonia, Lodovico Abate,
Cagnino, and other relations, are dead ; also her friend Isabella
d' Este — Letter from Vittoria Colonna ; her death, 1546 — An
attempt to establish the Inquisition at Naples is met with
insurrection of the people.
When, in the spring of 1541, Giulia Gonzaga Colonna
had obtained the assured possession of her nephew, she
left her rooms in the Convent of San Francesco, where
she had dwelt for nearly five years, ever since her coming
to Naples in the winter of 1535, and took up her abode
in a spacious palace of the Borgo delle Vergine, which
she had taken on her coming to Naples, and where she
kept up her establishment for the sake of her many friends
and her servants. She felt that in the freedom of her own
home she could devote herself with more enthusiasm to
the education of the young Vespasiano. At this time he
was a very handsome, clever boy, of splendid stature and
strength for his age ; he was not yet ten years old.'having
been born in December, 1531. He resembled his father
in many ways, especially in his taste for literature and
176
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GIULIA GONZAGA— Countess of Fondi.
Painter unknown. Hof Museum, Vienna.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
languages. Thus we find Gondolfo Porrino writing this
eulogy of the boy :
" So che con voi non bisogna esser Iosco
Che secondo che qui gli avvisi e hanno
Siete buon Greco, buon Latino e Tosco."
He is also highly praised in the writings of Giammichele
Bruto, who says of the young prince that " he distin-
guished himself in poetry, oratory, philosophy, mathe-
matics, horsemanship, and the use of arms." Another
high testimony to the growing proficiency of the youth is
given by Bernardino Rota, who says : " He appears to me
at the present day a type of antique excellence, combining
military science with that of letters, so that we foresee he
will be no less brave and ardent a captain in war than
wise and gentle a prince in time of peace." Then Rota
continues : " We do not wonder that such fruit springs
from such a root, more especially brought up and
nourished under the care of Giulia Gonzaga, of whose
high praise I may not speak, but can only pass it by in
silence ; for if I were to say little, it would not do justice
to her merit, and if I were to say all that she deserves, it
is beyond my power, and I must leave it to more eloquent
pens than mine."
It was for the sake of her dearly-loved nephew that
Signora Giulia had left the peaceful seclusion of the
Convent, and returned to the brilliant world of art and
literature which welcomed her with enthusiasm. Once
more she held a stately Court, and in her Neapolitan
palace there gathered around her a company of poets,
artists, musicians, and philosophers, who revived the
golden days described in the " Cortegiano " by Castiglione
at the Court of Urbino, but with a large proportion of
religious thinkers. Amongst the members of this splendid
177 12
A PRINCESS OF THE
literary society, who all vied with each other in proclaim-
ing in verse or prose the honour and glory of their beautiful
hostess, were the most famous men of the day. Amongst
these I will only name Annibale Caro, a friend of Molza,
introduced by a madrigal ; Claudio Tolomei, who paid his
tribute in abstruse metaphysical verse ; the Platonist,
Dionigi Atanagi ; and II Tansillo, a devoted friend and
adherent of Giulia, who granted him the unique favour of
paying him a visit of a few days in his ancient city of
Nola. This he commemorated in a delightful sonnet.
Another friend who must not be omitted was Camillo
Capilupi, son of the famous Benedetto, and Podesta of
Viadana, Ambassador of Charles V., Governor of Monfer-
rato and Castellan of the Citadel of Casale. He, too,
was a poet as well as a diplomatist, and some lines of his
to Giulia are worthy of quotation. It was at this time
that Titian appears to have painted the portrait of the
Countess of Fondi.
There is a charming letter from Giulia to a very old
friend, Ippolito Capilupi, later Bishop of Fano, dated,
" Naples, April 25, 1542," in which she says :
" I received yours of the 10th, with the more pleasure
as I had been expecting and hoping for it; I tried to
believe that you loved and remembered me in silence, but
I was glad to receive a proof of it. . . . With regard to
my portrait, I do not know whether I ought to rejoice,
because if it is as beautiful as you say, it cannot be
natural ; for it seems as though M. Titiano had wished
to show the power of his talent in painting a lady
completely beautiful, and as I ought to be, not as I really
am. Yet I am pleased that the picture is in the hands of
Your Lordship, as I can easily suppose that by means
178
ITALIAN REFORMATION
of the picture you remember the real person, and that in
future you will be more generous with your letters. In
the meantime I present and recommend myself to you
with all my soul, and pray God that all your desires may
be fulfilled." *
This picture had been painted by Titian and given as a
present to Ippolito Capilupi, when he was Legate at
Venice. In 1542 Giulia Gonzaga was but twenty-nine
years of age, although her romantic and eventful story
gives the impression of a long lifetime of adventure.
In this circle of interesting people, the youth Vespa-
siano was warmly welcomed and encouraged to take part
in their lively discussions and conversations, in which he
delighted them all with his precocious talent and intelli-
gence. But these peaceful years of happy study and
development passed away all too quickly, and the time
came when his aunt Giulia had to take him from the
care of his tutors and send him forth into the world.
There was only one career open to this young prince,
that of arms, and Giulia decided to send him if possible
to the Court of the Emperor, if she could obtain his first
introduction, for he was now thirteen years of age. For
this purpose she wrote the following letter, in which we
also see how carefully she watched over the interest of her
ward, Vespasiano :
" To the Emperor Charles V.
" Naples,
" November 5, 1544. t
" It is now some days since I sent Your Majesty the
account and decision of Don Lopes de Doria in the
* Arch. Capilupi de Mantova. The picture has completely dis-
appeared.
•f Race, " Marcobruno," p. 58.
179
A PRINCESS OF THE
matter of Casalmaggiore ; and concerning this, I most
humbly entreat that Your Majesty will deign to take
notice of the many wrongs which, on this account, Lodo-
vico Gonzaga, my father, has suffered, and which, in
consequence, Vespasiano Gonzaga, my ward and the heir
of my said father, has also endured . . . and I implore
Your Majesty that by reason of our services, and in
common justice, the said land should be given to my poor
ward, your slave and vassal. And not to weary Your
Majesty ... to whom I appeal, that with his usual
liberality he will take this poor boy into his favour, that
he may gladly and willingly spend his life in the service
of Your Majesty and the Prince, whom he will serve in
life and death, not less faithfully than Lodovico my
father, and Luigi my brother — grandfather and father to
the said Vespasiano — who will serve you for the sake of
their blessed memory ... as is the earnest hope of the
present writer. And thus I conclude, humbly kissing the
hands and feet of Your Majesty."
This letter was evidently graciously received, and
Vespasiano was offered the coveted position of page of
honour to the Prince Philip, son and heir of the Emperor.
Giulia has evidently once more sought the help of her
devoted friend and cousin, Don Ferrante Gonzaga, for a
few months later we find him writing to make arrange-
ments for the journey to Prince Doria, Captain-General
of the Imperial navy :
" Mantua,
"April, 2, 1545.
" The Signor Vespasiano Gonzaga, my .nephew, is
received into the service of the Prince by His Csesarean
Majesty, and, therefore, towards the end of next May we
180
ITALIAN REFORMATION
desire to send him to Barcelona ; hoping that V. S. will
be able to provide one or two galleys, with which he may
cross over.
" If it is possible at this time, and you are able to grant
to the Signora Giulia Gonzaga, to Vespasiano, and to
myself, this favour, we shall remain always your most
obliged servants. . . . And with all reverence I kiss
your hands."
The Emperor had not lost sight of this young son of
his faithful Luigi, concerning whom glowing reports had
reached, through his Ambassador Capilupi, and this
appointment as page was looked upon as a high honour,
which was eagerly accepted by his aunt Giulia. She
made great preparation in order that he might be nobly
equipped in arms, horses, and a suitable wardrobe for his
new position. The youth was naturally all eagerness
and excitement at the prospect of thus taking his part in
real life, but we cannot wonder that Giulia, whose love
for him was that of a devoted mother, felt the parting
acutely. She gave him much good counsel, as is the way
of mothers, " bidding him faithfully serve his God and his
Prince, holding honour above all things. He must never
forget to be modest in speech and brave in action ; he
must be true and generous, avoiding alike flattery and
conceit, and showing knightly courtesy to all men."*
The gallant deeds of his father, Luigi Rodomonte, had
long been household words to Vespasiano, and he was
eager to show himself worthy of his name and race.
With these excellent intentions, he set forth on his
journey to the Court of Spain, and it is interesting to
find that in after years he looked back upon this period
* Amante, "Vita di Giulia Gonzaga."
181
A PRINCESS OF THE
as a splendid school of manners and discipline. He there
continued his studies in company with Prince Philip's
other pages, and distinguished himself in scholarship and
literature, while his great stature and wonderful strength
for his age gave him great advantages in the trials of
horsemanship and arms. The Emperor was a very strict
censor of conduct, and in no other Court of Europe would
the young Gonzaga have had such careful and exemplary
training, great attention being also paid to all religious
observances.
Meantime his friends at home had already begun to
consider the question of a suitable marriage for this young
prince, with his vast inheritance and still greater expecta-
tions. The first bride suggested appears to have been Ippo-
lita, the third daughter of Don Ferrante Gonzaga, born in
Palermo in the year 1535, brought to Naples as a baby,
and cared for with devoted affection by the Signora Giulia.
In a letter of April 4, 1537, we find her writing to Don
Ferrante : " I have greatly enjoyed seeing these last few
days the Princess and that delicious Nini (a little son
of Don Ferrante), and, above all, my darling Donna
Ippolita, whom I am never satisfied with seeing and
kissing." And a week later, Giulia writes in another
letter : " Kiss the Nini a thousand times for me, and ten
thousand times Donna Ippolita, my bellissima e sapori-
tissima," which is weakened by translation into "my
most beautiful and most delicious."
Incidentally, this love for children throws a charming
sidelight upon the character of Giulia. Her little favourite,
Ippolita, grew up to be a beautiful, charming, and highly-
cultured girl, receiving the most advanced education, both
at Mantua, under the care of her uncle, Cardinal Ercole
Gonzaga, and at Milan, to which city her father was
182
ITALIAN REFORMATION
appointed Governor in 1546. A marriage with Vespasiano
would probably have been arranged, had it not been for
the match-making propensities of Charles V. When Don
Ferrante suggested, by his secretary Nuti to the
Emperor at Brussels, the name of Giulia's nephew as
a bridegroom for his daughter Ippolita, the Emperor
informed him that Fabrizio Colonna, Duke of Taglia-
cozza, had already proposed for the young lady's hand.
This marriage was, in fact, carried out in 1548, as we
shall hear later.
It was but of short duration, for at the ill-fated siege
of Parma, Fabrizio, who was fighting there in the company
of Don Ferrante, was seized with malignant fever, and
died on August 24, 1551, after barely three years of happy
married life. On the later sorrows of the fascinating
Ippolita we have no space to dwell at present ; but we
shall meet her again, for Giulia continued her devoted
friend until the end. Vespasiano would, indeed, have
been fortunate had he won her for his wife.
There was another lady suggested by his mother,
Isabella, who, although she had other children since her
marriage with the Prince of Sulmona, still took great
interest in her eldest son. She thought that a rich bride
would add much to the position of Vespasiano, and had
her eyes upon Vittoria Farnese, daughter of Pier Luigi
Farnese, and niece of Pope Paul III. Giulia does not
appear to have regarded this alliance with much favour ;
but, in any case, Vittoria herself, with her immense
dowry, had more ambitious views, and, after refusing
at least one other suitor, she ultimately married Guido-
baldo, Duke of Urbino, entering that city as a bride
in the early days of 1548, soon after her father had been
assassinated. And of her we read that " she had a long
183
A PRINCESS OF THE
and peaceful life." After this, the subject of the youth's
marriage remained in abeyance for a time, as he was still
so young that there was no immediate urgency.
Meantime, while Vespasiano was away at the Spanish
Court, in great favour with the Emperor and Prince
Philip, Giulia Gonzaga was persuaded to pay a visit
to Lombardy in 1546. One old chronicler remarks that
she wished to see her own people " before going down
to the tomb," but as the lady — born in 15 13 — was barely
thirty-three at this date, his melancholy forebodings seem
somewhat premature. Giulia travelled to Gazzuolo, which
her brother Luigi had generously left in possession of his
young cousin, Carlo Gonzaga, the son of Pirro, who
married Emilia Bentivoglio, the half-sister of Isabella
d' Este.* It must have been a sad visit in some respects,
for there had been so many changes since Giulia Gonzaga
had last seen the old Castello. Her dear grandmother,
Madonna Antonio del Balzo, had passed away, her brother
Cagnino had also died, and her father, the Abate Lodovico,
had soon followed him, all within three years. Giulia
was received with the greatest enthusiasm, and splendid
festivities were given in her honour. Carlo Gonzaga,
who, in person and valour, much resembled her brother
Luigi, had always been a great favourite of hers, as well
as his two charming sisters, Lucrezia and Isabella, made
famous by the praises of Matteo Bandello. During her
visit, a son was born to Carlo, and on the eighth day, at
the baptismal ceremony, the Countess of Fondi held the
infant at the font, and gave him the name of Annibale.
As we shall not have occasion to meet this infant again,
it may be interesting to observe that he took Orders,
* See Genealogy, Table II.
184
ITALIAN REFORMATION
became the forty-ninth Bishop of Mantua, was called
" Venerabile," and was sent as Nuncio to France by Pope
Clement VIII., to arrange a peace between Henri IV.
and Philip II. of Spain. He finally entered the Order of
Minori Osservanti, received the name of Francesco, and
died in the odour of sanctity.
Since Giulia's last visit to Lombardy much had
happened, not only in her own family, but amongst her
other relations at Mantua. Federico, who had always
been a great friend of hers, and with whom she constantly
corresponded, had been promoted to the title of Duke
of Mantua by the Emperor, and had married a charming
young princess and great heiress, Margherita Paleologa,
of Monferrato. But there was one dear and familiar face
which Giulia sadly missed : her beloved lady, the Marchesa
of Mantua, to whose kindness she owed so much in those
far-off days at Rome, had passed away on February 13,
1539, full of years and honours, a most noble and accom-
plished patron of art, whose loss could never be replaced.
Giulia had never ceased to regard this noble lady with
special affection, as is proved in her letters, of which I
will give one as an example, written less than three years
before the death of Isabella d' Este :
" A lla Marchesa di Mantova.
" NAPOLI, DAL MONASTERO,
" 5 0//., I S3 6*
" I have so much faith in Your Excellence and in the
esteem and affection which you bear to me and mine, that
I turn to you without misgiving in any affair where your
kindness can help me . . . having complete trust in the
* Arch. St. Mantova.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
gracious devotion which you have always shown to me.
In this certainty, I commend myself and my affairs as
much as possible to Your Excellence, in that which I
desire to obtain from the Signor, my father; and if,
as I have no doubt, you consider this just and honest,
I pray that Your Excellence will undertake this mission
. . . which my Messer Gondolfo (her secretary) will fully
explain to you. By this you will do me a singular favour.
And in this hope, I kiss the hands of Your Excellence,
to whom may our Lord God grant every desire."
When Giulia Gonzaga returned to Naples, she was
much distressed to hear of the ill-health of another dear
friend, Signora Vittoria Colonna, who had felt such deep
sympathy with the religious studies carried on under the
guidance of that holy man, Juan de Valdes, by the noble
ladies of Southern Italy. Vittoria has always had the
reputation of leading the Reformed movement, but in point
of fact she never committed herself to anything which
could be condemned as heresy, as we have seen in her
behaviour to Ochino after his flight, and did not, like
Giulia, pour out her wealth and devotion upon the many
members of their circle who had to flee to Germany
or Switzerland to escape the terrors of the Inquisition.
Amongst the Marchese de Pescara's letters, there is a very
charming one written to Giulia before the visit to Lom-
bardy,* and dated " Viterbo, December 8 " :
" Illustrissima Signora Mia, — V. S. (Vostra Sig-
noria) is always so good to me ; from the first time that I
visited you at Fondi, I have never met with such courtesy
* Archivio Vaticano.
1 86
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as yours . . . and your kindness has been the greatest
consolation to me . . . receiving from you so much affec-
tion and charity. If I, Signora mia, who am so much
obliged to your most reverent Ladyship . . . could
possibly serve you, it would give me great joy. ... If
the Signora, being absent, can do so much with her
Christian courtesy, what would it be if by the grace of
God she could possibly be here ? That I might have the
great consolation of conversing with her . . . for Mon-
signor is greatly occupied, also M. Flaminio[; and if it
were not for Messer Luigi Priuli and the Signor Carne-
secchi, I should fare badly. And certainly it seems suit-
able that the Signora should revisit her own country of
Lombardy — she who is so well-informed concerning the
true and Heavenly Country . . . also that it may give
her pleasure and that passing by here she might stay for
a month or two . . . But this letter is already too long,
for the pleasure of writing to you has transported me too
much, and I kiss your hands.
" I hear that V. S. has sent me the ' Exposition con-
cerning St. Paul,'* which was desired so much, and most
of all by me, who have such great need of it ; for which I
thank you indeed, and still more when I shall see it,
please God."
We do not know if this last meeting so much longed
for ever took place. In 1546 Vittoria, feeling her end
approaching, moved from the Convent of the Benedictines,
St. Anna, to the house of her relation, Giulia Colonna, in
Rome, and she passed away at the end of February, 1547,
at the age of fifty-seven. Towards the last days of her
* Written by Juan Valdds.
l8 7
A PRINCESS OF THE
life she wrote these lines, which beautifully express her
faith and hope :
" Anima, il Signor viene ; omai disgombra
Le folte nebbie intorno del tuo core,
Accio che 1' ugge del terreno amore
All' alta luce non faccian ombra." *
Amongst the many letters of Giulia Gonzaga, there are
several written at this time to Don Ferrante Gonzaga —
who in 1546 had been appointed Governor of Milan by
the Emperor — showing her keen interest in the troubled
condition of Italy. She felt deep sympathy for Siena,
where the citizens were making desperate efforts to pre-
serve their liberty, and she was much disturbed about the
insurrection in Genoa. But the general unrest was soon
to touch her far more nearly — in Naples itself.
The death of Henry VIII. on January 28, 1547, and
that of Francois I. on March 31 of the same year, had
left England and France in weaker hands, and encouraged
both the Emperor and the Pope to more independent
assertion. The Inquisition had already been established
in Rome since 1542, and Paul III. thought that now
would be a good opportunity for extending its powers to
Naples. In May of this year (1547) he sent a Brief to
that city, " commanding that all cases of heresy be judged
by the tribunal of the Inquisition." The Viceroy, Don
Pedro de Toledo, knowing the temper of the people with
regard to the Inquisition, did not dare to publish the
Brief as usual, by sound of trumpet, but he had it quietly
put up on the door of the Archbishop's palace, and then
* " My soul, the Lord appears ; disperse
The clouds that gather round thy heart,
And clear thee from the mist of earthly love,
Lest it o'ershade thy heavenly light."
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retreated to his castle at Pozzuoli, at the foot of the
Monte Nuovo,* to await the result. This was more
alarming than he had feared, for the Brief was at once
torn down by the people, who refused to give up the
ringleaders, and sent a deputation to the Viceroy, care-
fully chosen by the popular magistrates (the Eletti).
Antonio Grisone was the spokesman, and with great spirit
he pointed out how hateful the very name of the Inqui-
sition was to the people, and he implored the Viceroy
not to place upon them this intolerable oppression. Toledo
made a most courteous and diplomatic reply, assuring the
people that neither the Emperor nor the Pope would
oppose their wishes, and finally the deputation returned
joyfully to Naples.
But this security did not last long. Some months later
another edict, using much stronger language with regard
to the Inquisition, was found posted on the gates of the
Archbishop's palace. The whole city rose in tumult, and
with cries of " To arms ! to arms !" rushed to tear down
the Pope's Brief. The nobles joined with the multitude
in their hatred of the Inquisition, and urged that they
should all resist its setting-up to the death, at the same
time declaring their faithful allegiance to the Emperor.
The Viceroy was furious at this rebellion, and returned to
Naples determined to put it down with a strong hand. A
certain Tommaso Aniello.t a native of Sorrento, who had
* This Monte Nuovo, 440 feet high, had been thrown up after a
great volcanic eruption on Sunday, September 29, 1538. The
Viceroy had caused his castle to be built close by after this, in
order to encourage the terrified inhabitants to return to Pozzuoli and
rebuild their homes.
+ A descendant of his, then called " Massaniello," took part in the
great tumult in Naples a hundred years later (1647). The family still
exists in Sorrento.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
been foremost in tearing down the edict, was arrested,
but the people assumed so threatening an attitude that
the magistrates thought it prudent to release him.
Pedro de Toledo then sent secretly to Genoa for
Spanish troops to occupy the fortress of Castel Nuovo,
from whence they entered Naples, fired on the inhabitants,
and sacked the city, killing men, women, and children.
The Neapolitans rang the great bell of San Lorenzo as a
summons to arms, and all was tumult and confusion until
the night closed in. The magistrates decided to send an
embassy to appeal to the Emperor ; but meantime, during
the next fifteen days, deadly skirmishes continued between
the soldiers and the people, who, however, to show that
this was no mere seditious rising, hoisted a banner on
the belfry of San Lorenzo with the Emperor's arms, and
took the same watchword as their foes — " Spain and the
Emperor." It was an unspeakable relief when at last
the envoys returned from the Court at Madrid, and the
Viceroy was able to assure the excited people that " it
was not the intention of His Imperial Majesty to insist
on the establishment of the Inquisition, and that he
was willing to forget the past on account of their
loyalty."
It is interesting to find that Signora Giulia Gonzaga,
with many ladies amongst her friends and all her house-
hold, was persuaded by those who loved her to take refuge
in the island of Ischia during the disturbances in Naples.
She writes to Don Ferrante Gonzaga (Ischia, August 13,
1547), expressing her regret that the Signora Duchessa
had been ill, and hoping for her recovery :
"... I have been in Ischia for the last twenty days,
having been induced to come here by all those who love
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me ; and, indeed, we were in a most perilous condition in
Naples ... in the convent where I was staying. I could
not remain in San Ermo, and the country round was very
unhealthy . . . and it was not safe on account of the
number of strangers who crowded there. The great
danger for the city was the sacking and pillage, but the
people behaved wonderfully. . . . Your Lordship may
think otherwise, but to me it seems that the rigour of
justice is not good at all times . . . and this time of
violence cannot last. I and many ladies are in the
Castello, and the rest of my people in another house on
the estate ; and the ' Signora Marquesa ' shows me the
greatest kindness, and does all that is possible for me.
I hope to leave as soon as the city has returned to its
obedience, as it has always offered to do on hearing the
command of His Majesty, thus having conceded much,
and I hope all will end well. . . . Having written to you
in the past, and perhaps having been too importunate
about the establishment of the Donna Ippolita, I will
only say that this young girl gives me supreme delight in
all things, and more so every day. If the matter is not
settled, may the Lord God order all for the best ! . . . I
have heard nothing certain yet.* I do not write to the
Duchess, as she has not yet replied to my last, and
I kiss your hands and hers, and all your sons and
daughters, whom may Our Lord satisfy according to your
desires.t
* Ippolita Gonzaga was married to Fabrizio Colonna the following
year.
t Modena Estense Archivio. Autograph letters written by Giulia
herself were hastily, impulsively scribbled. The secretary com-
plained that she did much of his work.
191
A PRINCESS OF THE
" P.S. — . . . Matters in Naples are more troubled than
ever, and I do not know what will happen. I hope to
return there in ten days."
[Autograph.]
As we already know, all ended well, and Charles V.
made no further attempt during his life to establish the
Inquisition in Naples.
192
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CHAPTER XV
Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna in Spain, 1548 — He comes to Italy in
the train of the Archduke 1 Philip ; is present at the marriage of
Ippolita Gonzaga — He visits Mantua — Duchess Margherita
Paleologa, a friend of his aunt Giulia, is Regent of Mantua for
two of her sons, Francesco and Guglielmo — Vespasiano first
meets Donna Diana di Cardona— The Council of Trent (1549)
and the famous compromise, the " Interim " — Private marriage
of Vespasiano with Diana di Cardona — Death of Pope Paul III.
— War of Parma, in which Vespasiano takes part ; he is
wounded, and visits Giulia at Naples, 1553 — He fights in
Picardy — Giulia's letters to Diana di Cardona — Vespasiano
prisoner in Flanders.
During these years which had been so eventful for Giulia
Gonzaga in Naples, her nephew Vespasiano had remained
in Spain at the Emperor's Court. But towards the end
of the year 1548, Prince Philip had been summoned to
Italy by his father, and took young Colonna, who was
high in his favour, with him. After a prosperous voyage,
they landed at Genoa, and then proceeded to Milan,
where, by a curious coincidence, the heir of Spain had
promised to attend the wedding of the Lord Fabrizio
Colonna with the charming young girl, daughter of Don
Ferrante (who was made Governor of Milan in 1546),
Ippolita Gonzaga, whom we have already seen suggested
as a bride for Vespasiano. However, this marriage appears
to have been most satisfactory. Fabrizio was a gallant
i93 13
A PRINCESS OF THE
young prince, the nephew of Vittoria Colonna, and Duke
of Tagliacozzo, the most important town in a wild,
romantic district north of Rome, which is famous for the
fatal battle in which the young Prince Conradin was
taken prisoner and the flower of Ghibelin chivalry was
defeated by Charles I. of Anjou on August 28, 1268.
Dante thus alludes to the help given then by Alard, a
French soldier returning from the Holy Land :
" . . . E la da Tagliacozzo
Ove senz' arme vinse il vecchio Alardo."
Inf. xxviii. 17.
The young bride Ippolita wrote to her father, Don
Ferrante Gonzaga, a few days after the wedding : " The
obligation which I feel, in the first place towards the
Lord God, and then to your Excellence, is such that
human language cannot express it, for having given me
so handsome and good a husband." Poor Ippolita ! It
is sad to remember how very brief was her married happi-
ness. We are told that Girolamo Muzio Giustinopoli-
tano, who was present at the nuptial festivities, hastened
to entertain the young married couple with his treatise
concerning the institution, the utility, and the duties of
matrimony. Amongst the wedding guests present on this
occasion was Ippolita's brother Cesare, who later suc-
ceeded his father in the Duchy of Guastello, a small town
and estate on the banks of the Po, about nineteen miles
from Parma, where a bronze statue of Don Ferrante
Gonzaga may still be seen in the market-place. Cesare
married the sister of San Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of
Milan ; he was a great friend of Giulia Gonzaga, who
wrote to him very frequently after his father's death in
1557. This was the dear little " Nino," to whom she used
to send " her love and a thousand kisses." Cesare was
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also one of the chief characters in Torquato Tasso's well-
known Dialogue, " II Gonzaga o del piacere onesto," in
which he is spoken of with such high praise as a prince
of " great talent and mature judgment, of a profound
acquaintance with letters, a lover of learned men and
poets, whom he provided not only with a subject, but also
with the means to continue their writing and poetry."
To return to Vespasiano Colonna. After the wedding
festivities were over, he obtained permission from the
Archduke Philip to visit his dominions in Lombardy, and
set forth with the gentlemen of his suite to the old
Castello of Sabbioneta, which he had always looked upon
as the home of his family. It was dear to him from early
memories, and those happy days of his childhood spent
under the care of his grandfather, the Abate Lodovico.
Here he was received with all honour and respect by
Messer Pietro Antonio Masserotto, the agent and general
manager of all his property. The young lord was only
seventeen, but he had been so carefully trained for his
high position that he was able to go into all the details of
his large revenue, and take a complete survey of all his
palaces and estates.
The property had been admirably managed under the
constant, watchful superintendence of the Signora Giulia
Gonzaga Colonna, who had kept up a constant corre-
spondence with Masserotto as guardian to her nephew.
Between the years 1542 and 1552, twenty-five of her
letters to the agent have been preserved, in which it is
most interesting to notice her scrupulous demand for
accuracy in the accounts, and at the same time the liberal
and generous conduct which she required towards the
vassals and tenants. The replies which she receives
evidently keep her in touch with all that happens, not
i95
A PRINCESS OF THE
only in the dominion itself, but in all the neighbourhood ;
and her commands are given with so much kindness and
courtesy that we feel she is writing to a trusted friend.
During Vespasiano's seven years of absence from
Lombardy there had been so many changes, as various
kinsmen and friends had died, that we do not wonder
at his making only a brief stay at Sabbioneta, and gladly
accepting an invitation to Mantua from the young Duke
Francesco II., who had succeeded his father Federico
in 1540. In a letter of his grandmother, Isabella d'Este,
to the father of Francesco, dated 1538, we have an
interesting allusion to this prince of sixteen :
" I went yesterday to the Castello [of Mantua] and paid
a visit to the Illustrious Duchess [Margherita], your wife
. . . whom I found in excellent health. All that I beheld
was most pleasing to me. The Marchese [Francesco],
who is growing up in beauty like a flower, repeated to
me many lines of Virgil, in the presence of the Duchess,
his mother, with so much grace and distinctness that it
was wonderful. I also saw Signor Guglielmo [born 1538],
with his fat baby face, innocent and joyous, and both he
and his sweet sister, Donna Isabella [born 1537], are a
delightful picture. . . ."*
As for Duke Francesco II., in this very year of his
cousin Vespasiano's visit (1549), he married the Arch-
duchess Catherine of Austria, niece of Charles V., but
only survived a few months, having, unfortunately, met
with an accident, falling into the lake while he was
shooting wildfowl from a boat, and the chill brought on
a fever. He was succeeded in the Dukedom of Mantua
by his younger brother Guglielmo, who had a long and
* Luzio e Renier, "Giorn. Stor.," p. 36.
106
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prosperous reign of forty years. His mother, the Duchess
Margherita Paleologa, was thus destined to be Regent
for two of her sons, who became Lords of Mantua in
succession at so early an age. She was a great friend
of Giulia Gonzaga, and carried on a correspondence with
her for many years. Giulia's father, the Abate Lodovico,
and her brother Cagnino had both been present at the
wedding of the Princess Margherita with Duke Federico
in September, 1531, of which we have a very full descrip-
tion. The bride wore a wedding dress of white satin
embroidered with silver, a high collar and sleeves sewn
with pearls, a jewelled girdle round her waist, and a white
satin cap studded with diamonds. We are assured by
one who knew her well that " she was beautiful, gracious,
kind, wise, and virtuous." This charming lady had not
a very happy married life (which only lasted till 1540),
as her young husband was for some years still under the
influence of his former mistress, Isabella Boschetti. Of
Margherita's later life we shall hear more from the letters
of Giulia.
It was during this visit of 1549 to Mantua, that the
youth Vespasiano made an acquaintance which was
destined to have a baneful influence upon his future life.
Don Ferrante Gonzaga, Governor of Milan, was then
staying in the lake-girdled city on the banks of the
Mincio ; he had brought his family with him, and in their
company a beautiful girl who was the destined bride of
his young son Cesare. Donna Diana di Cardona was
a native of Sicily, the daughter of Don Antonio di Cardona
and Signora Beatrice di Luna e Aragona. She appears
to have been greatly attracted by the handsome young
Colonna, so splendid in stature and bearing, the most
courtly and delightful of companions, and last, not least,
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A PRINCESS OF THE
a wealthy prince, already lord of his dominions. Her
affections had certainly not been touched by the mere
boy, Cesare, to whom she was promised, and we may
readily believe that she was not slow to welcome the
admiration and attentions of Vespasiano Gonzaga. His
first love-affair appears to have made such progress that
it was with great regret that he tore himself away from the
fascinating Lady Diana, to obey the summons of the Arch-
duke Philip who was about to join the Emperor in Flanders.
In this year (1549) Charles V. had attained the very
height of his power and greatness, such as no Emperor
since Frederick II. had achieved, and looked upon himself
as Dictator of Germany. He had sent for his son Philip,
who was now twenty-two, in order that he might receive
the oath of allegiance from his future subjects, while the
private desire of Charles was to secure also his son's
succession to the Empire. Like his father Maximilian,
Charles was at heart a visionary, and his dream had long
been to assemble a General Council with powers to turn
the Lutherans back to the old Faith, and to reform the
Pope and the Church. Then he looked forward to the
day when united Christendom would march under his
banners against the Infidel, whom he would utterly conquer,
and would himself be crowned in Jerusalem. But, alas !
for the dreamer. The glorious vision was never to be
realized; his apparent triumph was deceptive, and the
future would overwhelm him with a sea of troubles.
Many a time had he been warned already that he was
fighting against the tendencies of the age. In vain he
hoped for Protestant submission to the Council of Trent ;
the famous compromise, the "Interim," which he had
fondly hoped would reconcile Protestant and Pope, left
them both unsatisfied. True it conceded clerical marriage,
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the use of the cup by the laity, and a modification of the
doctrine of "Justification by Faith"; but, on the other
hand, it retained all the seven Sacraments, the worship
of the Virgin and Saints, fasts, processions, and other
Catholic ceremonies, and reaffirmed the dogma of Tran-
substantiation. When after years of labour it was pro-
claimed as an Edict on May 15, 1548, we have a vivid
account of the result at Augsburg by an English Ambas-
sador at the Court of Charles V. The ministers of the
city refused to say Mass in their churches ; " they would
rather offend man than God, and were compelled to leave
the city, which remained disconsolate. In most of the
shops, people were seen in tears; a hundred women
besieged the Emperor's gates, howling and asking in
their outcries where they should christen their children
and where they should marry ? For the churches where
the Protestants did by thousands at once communicate
are locked up, and the people, being robbed of all their
godly exercises, sit weeping and wailing at home. . . ."
While the Emperor was thus losing his popularity in
Germany, his prestige abroad was departing. France and
England had made peace, and would next turn to war
upon him ; the naval warfare in the Mediterranean against
Dragut the Corsair was going against him, and it was but
small advantage that before his death in November, 1549,
Paul III. dissolved the rival Council at Bologna, and
recognized the " Interim." The Emperor returned to
Spain with his son Philip, a wiser and a sadder man,
while young Vespasiano was free to continue his love
affairs in Italy.
We have now reached a very mysterious part of our
story. We know not what had passed during the absence
of the young Gonzaga prince ; but when he returned from
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Flanders, no difficulty appears to have been placed in the
way of his courting Donna Diana, and the next we learn
about the young people is that they eloped to Piacenza,
and were there secretly married. Had Don Ferrante
Gonzaga seen reason to change his mind about the young
lady, and did he no longer desire her as a bride for his
son Cesare ? We are left absolutely in the dark on this
interesting subject, and can only form our own conclusions
in the light of subsequent events, that Don Ferrante may
have had private reasons for his tacit acquiescence in this
change of bridegrooms. One thing, at least, is certain :
the parents of Signora Diana remained in ignorance of
the important event until many months afterwards, for a
a letter exists, dated March 20, 1550, in which the mother,
Donna Beatrice di Luna e Aragona, writes from Palermo
to her daughter " that she has heard of the marriage only
a few days before."
Why this strange secrecy ? And no one seems to be
surprised or to complain of it. On the contrary, there is
a most friendly letter preserved, the first, apparently,
which Giulia Gonzaga wrote to her new niece, about the
same time as that from Diana's mother :
"To Donna Diana Car dona Gonzaga. [Autograph.]
" MODENA,
" March 29, 1550.
" Ill ma S ra , my Dearest and Most Honoured
Daughter, — From your letter and from that which I have
received from the Captain Chiapino, I have taken great con-
solation in knowing that Your Highness is well and that you
are contented with your husband ; and know for certain that
one of the greatest desires which I have in this life is to
learn that you and Vespasiano love each other, and I shall
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always be satisfied that all the affection which Vespasiano
owes, and desires to bear me, is added to that which he
should give you ; because, my dear daughter, in this con-
sists the true happiness of all things in this world, when
husband and wife love each other and are of one mind,
because with this all things will go well, and they will live
in peace and content.
" Concerning the Signora Donna Isabella [Brisegna,
wife of Garcia Manrique, Governor of Piacenza], I do not
know what to say, except that I believe you love her so
much that there is no need of my persuasion ; all the
same, you must know that she is my very soul, and that
what you do for her I will put down to my account. I
must also tell you that you should show great courtesy to
Messer Joanni Vincencio, who, besides being my most
trusted friend, is a person who knows, and is most worthy,
faithful, and devoted to you and Vespasiano. ... I have
written to Messer Jo. Vincencio, who will speak to you and
you can trust him, and also to S a Donna Isabella. ... I
can think of nothing else, but I pray you to tell me how
you are . . . and let me know . . . and I pray to God that
He will grant your heart's desire, and make and keep you
happy for many years with your husband."
The Donna Isabella referred to in this letter is Isabella
Brisegna, a lady living at Naples, who was Giulia Gonzaga's
dearest friend. She married Garcia Manrique, Governor of
Piacenza, brother of the Spanish Inquisitor-General, whose
views on the subject of the Reformers he shared. Isabella
had been an earnest and devoted pupil of Valdes, and she
incurred such cruel persecution, that she was compelled
later to take refuge at Ravenna, and from thence escaped
to Zurich and Chiavenna. Giulia always watched over her
A PRINCESS OF THE
from afar with the tenderest love, and provided her with a
settled income, as she did with so many other refugees for
their Faith. When Carnesecchi, in his Trial by the
Inquisition, was asked why he called Isabella la divina,
he replied, " that she was so beautiful and so gracious."
As for Vespasiano, he appears to have been quite un-
troubled by the idea of anything unusual about his secret
marriage, for he next suggests taking his wife to visit her
parents in Sicily. He wrote to ask permission of the
Emperor, who granted it in a letter from Brussels, dated
"April ii, MDL." But this journey was never accom-
plished, for the young lord was taken ill with a sudden attack
of intermittent fever, and was compelled to remain at Sab-
bioneta. When he recovered, he devoted himself once more
to his favourite studies, and, we may hope, also to the
entertainment of his wife, although the historians do not
mention this. We are not told whether he had any
sympathy with the Reformed views of his aunt Giulia, but
we may at least infer that her influence had given him a
broader tolerance than was usual in those days. For we
are interested to find that he received with favour an appli-
cation from the Jews, who were persecuted elsewhere, for
the privilege of establishing in Sabbioneta a printing-press
for the publication of Hebrew literature. In taking this
liberal and philosophical view, Vespasiano showed himself
much in advance of his age, and his generosity was
rewarded by the fact that it was always accounted an
honour to Sabbioneta to become thus a centre for the
diffusion of Oriental learning.
Meantime Pope Paul III. had been succeeded by the
Cardinal del Monte as Julius III. on February 7, 1550.
The English Cardinal, Reginald Pole, was so high in the
voting that at the second scrutiny he had twenty-six votes
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(including his own) when only twenty-seven were required.
We are told that in the betting at the " Banker's shops "
he went up to eighty. But, in fact, his views on " Justifica-
tion " lost him the tiara. Julius loved ease and pleasure,
and expressed his views of life by writing over the palace
which he built :
" Let all honest men enjoy themselves decently, without scruple."
But this was no easy matter in those troublous days, and
he soon found himself involved in the famous war of
Parma. Duke Ottavio Farnese, feeling himself insecure
in his possessions, joined in alliance with the King of
France. Pope Julius could not permit this, and com-
manded him to yield Parma to the Papal troops, under pain
of excommunication. Ottavio naturally refused, and then
began that long and tedious war, in which Ferrante
Gonzaga took the lead on the side of the Emperor. Ves-
pasiano was • placed in command under him, and had the
misfortune to be wounded in an attack on the city with
Troito Rossi, by the gate of San Barnabo, when the
Cavaliere Goito, with ioo horsemen and as many arque-
busiers, opposed them. The wound did not seem very
serious at first, and when, soon after, Prince Philip was
returning from Flanders, nothing could prevent Vespasiano
from travelling to join the Archduke at Villafranco and
paying due homage to him. He was always a favourite
with the prince, who took him on to Mantua in his suite on
a brief visit to the Regent, Duchess Margherita. Young
Gonzaga continued in his lord's company as far as Genoa,
and from thence saw him set sail for Spain. Not until
then did Vespasiano trouble about his wound, which was
greatly inflamed, and at the urgent request of his aunt, he
journeyed by sea to Naples, where Madonna Giulia nursed
203
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and tended him with devoted love. The previous year she
had decided to return to the peace and quiet of the con-
vent, and had obtained a Brief from Pope Julius III.,
signed March 28, 1550, giving her permission " to dwell as
a secular person with the nuns of S. Francesco delle
Monache." But, as we have seen, she always kept her
palace in the Borgo delle Vergine, for the sake of her
many visitors and her servants, so she could readily return
there to take charge of her nephew.
He made a slow recovery, and seems to have remained at
Naples for some time ; but he was at home in Sabbioneta
before the winter, as we have an autograph letter written
by Giulia Gonzaga to Donna Diana on December 20 :
" Most Illustrious Lady, my Dearest and Most
Honoured Daughter, — However much I may say or
write, I cannot express sufficiently the love which I bear to
you, and, in consequence, the satisfaction which I have in
knowing that you are well. If it should please God to
make you know some day how much I love and desire to
serve you, and how by the first bond of friendship and
then by the closer link of kindred, we are knit together.
. . . When a letter of yours is late in coming, I say
that the Sabbath delays. ... I will add no more than
to say how glad I am that Vespasiano is better, and may
God grant that he will recover complete health, and be
permitted to live happily for many years, and suffer me
to see your mutual content. And with all my heart I
recommend myself to you, and pray you to remind
Vespasiano that he must be careful of himself."
In April, 1552, the war of Parma came to an end, after a
truce between the Emperor and France, by which Ottavio
Farnese was to hold the city unmolested for two years.
204
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It was in July of this same year that Ferrante Gonzaga
was removed from the government of Milan, which he had
ruled since 1546, but without much success, for the city
had been a centre of disaffection. This was a great blow
to his relations, Giulia and Vespasiano, who were his
devoted friends.
Early in the year 1553 Vespasiano went to Innsbruck,
and offered his services to the Emperor in the war against
France on the frontier of Picardy. He was graciously
received, and obtained the command of 400 horsemen
under the banner of the Prince of Sulmona, his stepfather,
who had been appointed Captain-General of the expedi-
tion. The cavalry was commanded by Emmanuel Phili-
bert, who had just succeeded his father as Duke of Savoy,
the infantry being under the orders of Don Francesco
d' Este of Ferrara. They did not meet with much suc-
cess at first ; but Terouanne, which they had besieged in
April, was compelled to capitulate at the end of two
months, with its garrison of 3,000 men and the eldest son
of the Constable de Montmorency. Cambray was attacked
by the French King, Henri II., but it was gallantly
defended and the besiegers driven off. Amongst other
successes, Robert de la Marck was taken prisoner, while
Hesdin was taken and destroyed by the companies under
the command of Emmanuel Philibert. In this campaign
we are told that Vespasiano greatly distinguished himself
and won much honour.
At length he returned home to Sabbioneta and to his
wife Diana, who, with her pleasure-loving Southern
nature must have felt very lonely and deserted in that
quiet country place during the long and frequent absence
of her warrior- husband. We know so little about her life
at this time that we cannot omit anything connected with
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her ; thus it is important to quote one more letter from
Giulia Gonzaga.
" To Donna Diana Cardona Gonzaga.
" Naples,
"August 6, 1552.*
" Illustrious Lady, my honoured Niece and
Daughter, — I was extremely pleased to receive your letter
of last month and to hear that you are well. I thank you for
your promise to forward those letters which I wrote before
to the Signora Isabella at Piacenza, for which I am very
grateful . . . and I pray you to remember to send them
by a faithful messenger and to take great care that they
are not opened. I am sorry to hear that there have been
certain disputes between private individuals of Mantua
and the Commune of Rodigo ; and if I knew all the
particulars and what had happened, I should be happy
to do anything to make peace between them. ... I
implore you to behave in this matter with your usual
prudence, and to seek in any way to smooth down the
matter and calm the minds of the disputants while the
controversy is fresh. I am writing also on the subject to
Madama di Mantua and to the Reverend Cardinal [who
were both Regents of Mantua], but as you have more
information and know better what to say, I am sure you
will gladly help. In the meantime, may God keep you in
health and grant all your desires."
This letter shows Giulia in the character of a wise ruler
who will take any trouble to maintain peace. We also
see in her anxiety about sending the letters to Isabella
Brisegna how very careful she is to avoid danger to the
* Written by the secretary ; not " autograph," like the two former
letters.
206
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poor lady by having the loving words of religious hope
and comfort betrayed to her enemies. It was not long
after this that the persecution of Isabella by her Spanish
husband, Garcia Manrique, became more than she could
endure, and she was driven to flight.
His young wife was not destined to have Vespasiano
long at home with her, for in January, 1554, he was again
summoned by the Emperor to join his army in the war
of Flanders. Here he fought bravely, as usual, but was
unfortunate in an engagement, where he rode on in front
to lead his men, was surrounded by the enemy, and in the
melee his sword fell to the ground, and he was taken
prisoner. He was confined in the Castle of Namur, and
we have a letter of his, written on February 12, to request
that arrangements may be made to obtain his release.
He was soon set free, and, after his return home, received
a letter from his mother, Isabella Princess of Sulmona,
pressing him to pay her a visit at Fondi. This shows
that, notwithstanding his devotion to his aunt Giulia, he
kept on most friendly terms with his mother and stepfather.
Various letters from Giulia to her nephew of this
period are preserved, in which she expresses her great
affection for him, and sends kind messages to his wife.
Some are evidently written from the convent, as she
speaks of " having his two rooms prepared for him in the
palace, which she keeps in her possession." She always
addresses him as " Illustrissimo nepote et figlio carissimo."
207
A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER XVI
The life and death of Ippolita Gonzaga ; Giulia's devotion to her—
Marriage of a daughter of Isabella Colonna — Story of Count
Galeazzo Caraccioli — Other friends of Giulia : Onerata Tancredi,
Cardinal Seripando, Pietro Carnesecchi, Margherita Paleologa,
etc. — Warlike adventures of her nephew Vespasiano ; he is
wounded at Ostia — Tragic death of his wife, Donna Diana di
Cardona, after his return to Sabbioneta.
Giulia Gonzaga, to whom had been denied the joy of
home life and the happiness of seeing her children grow
up around her, had a true genius for friendship; those
who were in trouble ever turned to her for help and
sympathy, as a flower unconsciously turns towards the
sun. Never was the proverb " A friend is born for
adversity " more justified than in her case. For instance,
in the universal outcry which followed upon the flight of
Fra Bernardino Ochino from persecution and death, when
his warmest supporters forsook him, she almost alone
found charitable excuses, and spoke warmly in his praise.
We see this in her letter to Don Ferrante Gonzaga, who
had reason to feel so deeply grateful to her for the loving
devotion with which she watched over his daughter
Ippolita.
Her wedding with Fabrizio Colonna, at which Vespasiano
was present, has already been mentioned, but her happy
married life came to an end all too soon. Fabrizio took
part under Don Ferrante in that ill-fated war of Parma,
208
Sebastiano del Piombo.
GIULIA GONZAGA (reputed).
With Attributes of St. Catherine.
Formerly in the Bandini Palace, Rome.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
where he fell ill of fever, was moved to Viadana, and there
all the tender care of his young wife could not save him
from death. Prostrated by the sudden blow, poor Ippolita
gave herself up to despair, and only the wise devotion of
Madonna Giulia saved her life and reason. Amongst the
letters of consolation which she received was one from
her cousin Lucrezia Gonzaga, which is worthy of quotation :
" Truly he was in the right who declared that all things
are good which are according to nature, and what is there
more natural to all men than death ? . . . This world,
Signora, is a very deep and dark vale of tears, full of
troubles, and it is a fortunate adventure to leave it happily,
as he has done. Ah, how many times have I smiled at
those who do not know that to lament for the irreparable
is rather a sign of folly than of true grief, and that death
is not death, but rather the beginning of life ! I conclude,
therefore, that he alone acts wisely who, being mortal,
expects nothing from this life of ours but mortal things."
We may wonder how much comfort poor Ippolita found
in this philosophical advice, or in the wonderful medal
engraved in her honour, wherein she is represented as
Diana escaping from Avernus towards the moon and stars ;
but as time passed on, she apparently recovered her peace
of mind, and another marriage was arranged for her.
This was the usual fate of a young and beautiful widow
who had no vocation for the convent. The chosen husband
was Antonio Caraffa, Duke of Mondragone, son of the
Prince of Stigliano, and for a time all went well. Ippolita
was able to carry out her passion for beauty and the fine
arts, in the decoration of a splendid new palace at Naples,
where the painter Bernardino Campi filled a great
gallery with beautiful copies of famous pictures, spoken of
209 14
A PRINCESS OF THE
with admiration by all her contemporaries. This palace
was near the Church of St. Ursula, on the way to Chiaja,
surrounded by a wonderful garden, described by Torquato
Tasso in his Dialogue, " II Gonzaga o del piacere onesto."
But once more trouble was in store for Ippolita, as
serious domestic dissensions arose. Her father-in-law had
married again, and his second wife, Lucrezia del Tufo,
refused to allow the young couple to remain with them,
and they were apparently turned out of the beautiful
palace with an insufficient income. Ippolita's husband
departed from Naples in disgust, leaving her behind, to
the great distress of her father, Don Ferrante, who was
already troubled at having lost the Emperor's favour, and
who died the same year (1557).
The whole story of Ippolita's troubles is too long to
tell ; but we learn from Giulia Gonzaga's many letters to
Don Ferrante how earnestly she laboured on behalf of her
dear Ippolita ; how, with infinite tact and patience, she
interviewed ihis unpleasant Princess of Stigliano and
tried to make peace. When at last the young wife would
have been turned adrift, she found a gallant champion
of her good name in the great Countess of Fondi, who
insisted upon proper precautions and a suitable chaperone,
etc., being provided, to silence any possible gossip. After
the death of her father and mother, Ippolita and her little
girl * found a peaceful home with Giulia until, a few years
later, we learn from a touching and remorseful letter of
the Duke of Mondragone, the story of Ippolita's death, at
the age of twenty-eight, "watched over and cared for
with all motherly affection by the devoted and sorrowing
Giulia."
It is interesting to find her playing a mother's part in
* Who married Caraffa, Duke of Nocera.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
arranging the marriage of a daughter of her sister-in-law,
Isabella Colonna, now Princess of Sulmona. We have
the whole account in a letter of June 28, 1553, to Don
Ferrante Gonzaga, and it is curious to be thus behind the
scenes in the arrangement of a great marriage in the later
Renaissance. A son of the Prince of Stigliano is the
proposed bridegroom, and the father is very sharp in his
bargaining about the dowry required. The bride is to
have 43,000 ducats, and of this 3,000 are to be in jewellery
and " movable goods," the rest to be paid all at once, or
at least 30,000 ducats of it. Giulia speaks of the young
lady as " rather beautiful than otherwise," which is not
very enthusiastic praise. "It is unfortunate that Italy is
so poor in suitable matches, for the Prince only intends
to give his son 12,000 scudi a year, and the lady will not
hear of leaving her country." However, at last all is
settled, and in October of the same year Giulia writes to
the Ducal Secretary : " Praised be God that we have at
last seen the end of this marriage !" She hopes that now
Donna Isabella will be satisfied.
On another quite different occasion Giulia Gonzaga gave
her kindest help and sympathy. Amongst the disciples
of Valdes there was a young noble who was attracted to
the Reformed doctrine through the teaching of Pietro
Martire Vermigli. He was the son and heir of Colantonio
Caraccioli, the Marchese di Vico,* and nephew of Cardinal
Caraffa. This young Count Galeazzo Caraccioli was born
in Naples in 1517, and was a scholar of great promise and
high character, the pride of his father's heart. It was
a kinsman of his, Gian Francesco di Caserta, who first led
him to attend the discourses of Vermigli, and one day he
* This is a city four miles from Castellamare, built on ruins of an
ancient Gothic settlement.
211
A PRINCESS OF THE
was much struck by a quaint simile of the preacher : *' As
a traveller may see in the distance a dance taking place,
when he is too far to hear the sound of the music, he
must think the dancers are out of their mind ; but as he
draws nearer, and hears the harmony and spirit of the
tune, he takes great joy therein, and soon joins in the
dance himself. So is it when you observe the change in
life and manners of Christians : you think at first that
they have lost their reason ; but as you gradually learn
their thoughts and the power of God's Word, you too
will be drawn into the circle and join them." But
Galeazzo went even farther than his teachers ; for when
he had occasion to travel into Germany in the service
of the Emperor, he learned from Luther and Calvin that
it was not enough for him to accept " Justification by
Faith," but that he must also forsake " idolatry," and
therefore cast off all allegiance to the Papacy — all out-
ward conformance in superstitious customs.
This was a stern doctrine ; for, like the rich young man
in the Gospel, Galeazzo had " great possessions." He was
idolized by his father and mother ; he had married very
young, and was devoted to his charming wife Vittoria
and his small children ; while a peaceful life of culture
and happiness, with many congenial friends, seemed
temptingly outspread before him. Of all his family, he
was the only one disturbed by religious doubts or eager
in the search of truth, and every art of persuasion and
temptation was used to win him back. In Giulia Gonzaga
alone he found encouragement and sympathy, and as time
passed on and he found his life intolerable, at variance
with those he loved in a matter which to him was one of
life or death, it was from her support that he gathered
courage to make the final sacrifice and give up all for his
212
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Faith. On March 26, 1551, he took an affectionate leave
of his family — for he could not even persuade his wife to
join him — and set forth on his lonely pilgrimage to a land
of freedom, where he could openly profess his Reformed
religion. He first went to Augsburg, where the Emperor
Charles V. was at that time, and then on to Geneva,
where he was well received by Calvin. He had left all
his wealth behind him, except 2,000 ducats which he
happened to have with him at the time, and he set to
work to earn his own living.
It was in vain that his despairing friends and family
implored him to return. He did, indeed, yield once to
the entreaty of his father to meet him at Verona, with a
safe-conduct from the Pope, and listen to his arguments ;
and many efforts were made to recall him, especially when
his uncle became Pope (Paul IV.), but they failed to dis-
turb the constancy of Galeazzo. In later years, when his
son Carlo had become a dignitary in the Roman Church,
a strong plea was made to him not to interfere, by his
heresy, with his son's promotion ; but nothing changed
Galeazzo 's purpose. He remained at Geneva, where he
became an earnest preacher, and the leader and pastor of
the Italian Reformed Church there, and died in 1586,
after half a lifetime of voluntary exile for his Faith. His
friend Caserta had many years before sealed his constancy
by his death, being beheaded and burned in the market-
place in 1564.
Amongst other friends of Giulia, of whom we shall hear
more in later years, for they remained devoted to her
until the end, was Onorata Tancredi, a Sienese lady of
great talent and high character, who had been chosen as
companion to Ippolita Gonzaga, and whose letters to
many noted people of the day are preserved. Cardinal
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A PRINCESS OF THE
Seripando and Pietro Carnesecchi were fellow-disciples
of Valdds, and their friendship was also a source of great
comfort to her.
Amongst her constant correspondents were Don Ferrante
Gonzaga, whose death in 1557 was a great loss to her ;
and the Duchess of Mantua, Margherita Paleologa, to
whom she writes frequent and most affectionate letters,
taking a warm interest in all that happens at Mantua.
When Guglielmo, the young Duke of Mantua, marries
the Princess Eleonora of Austria, Giulia at once adopts
her as a new friend by inheritance.
Of her affection for Isabella di Brisegna we have already
spoken. But her nephew Vespasiano, her " more than
son," ever remained her dearest and best-beloved. We
see from her many letters the deep interest which she
takes in his career, and her delight when, between a battle
and a siege, he finds time to pay her a visit at Naples, in
the palace where "his two rooms are always ready for
him." Giulia also takes a most friendly interest in his
wife Diana, is always glad to have news of her, and sends
kind inquiries and messages ; but we cannot help coming
to the conclusion that there is not much sympathy, nor
are there many interests in common, between them. We
hear of the death of Diana di Cardona's mother, Donna
Beatrice, in 1553, and there seem to have been difficulties
about her will. But, from all we can gather, Vespasiano
left his wife to endure a very lonely time at Sabbioneta
during his absence fighting in the service of the Emperor.
After the unfortunate incident of his imprisonment in
the Castle of Namur, in 1554, we find him engaged the
next summer^n Piacenza, where, under the leadership of
the Duke of Alva, he has the title of Captain-General of
the Italian Infantry, he besieges Voliano, and is then sent
214
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against Turin in order to draw the French away from the
siege of Parma. In 1556 he pays a brief visit to his home
at Sabbioneta, to look after his estates, and then goes to
the camp of the Duke of Alva, General of Philip II. of
Spain (his father, Charles V. having resigned the throne).
Here with a company of 8,000 infantry, he is sent to fight
against Colonna in the service of Pope Paul IV., who had
combined with France against Spain. Vespasiano gains
a victory and enters Agnani in triumph ; then con-
tinuing this war in the Campagna, he is sent to Vicovaro,
that castle of unfortunate memory, where his father, Luigi
Rodomonte Gonzaga, met with his death. The place was
guarded by Francesco Orsini, but Vespasiano was
successful in taking it, and thus avenging his father's
death.
He remains faithful to the service of Philip II., and we
next hear of him encamped at Monticelli, not very far
distant from Tivoli, and from thence is ordered to subdue
Palombara, about twenty miles from Rome, at the foot of
Mount Gennaro. It is interesting to learn that this young
Gonzaga captain, even while under the orders of the stern
Alva, showed mercy to the inhabitants, for " he had pity
on the women and children, and the old people."
The next expedition was a more important one — the siege
of Ostia, the ancient port of Rome, and here there was a
more determined resistance, for the siege lasted seven
days, and at length, as the besiegers came short of ammu-
nition, it was determined to take the Rocca by assault.
Vespasiano encouraged his soldiers to scale the walls, but
they were driven back with so much energy that the young
leader " found himself pbliged," as Faroldi says, " to
encourage his men by going at their head with sword and
shield, and being the first to leap the moat. He was on the
215
A PRINCESS OF THE
brink of this, when there came a shot from an arquebuse
which struck him on the upper lip above the mouth and
drove the flesh into the nostrils, which brought on such a
flow of blood that he was forced to retire." He soon
recovered and the wound healed up; indeed, one of his
admirers wrote that, " thanks to the admirable skill of the
surgeons, his features were not deformed, and this noble
cicatrice even increased the dignity of his countenance."
Torquato Tasso was one of those who joined in the
chorus of praise of the Gonzaga warrior, and in his dedica-
tion to the Dialogo " II Minturno" he writes : " Vespasiano
Gonzaga, after the end of the war between Pope Paul IV.
and King Philip II., left for awhile the military career in
which he had so highly distinguished himself . . . and
returned to Naples, in October of the year 1557, where he
stayed with his mother, the most Illustrious Signora
Isabella Colonna, Princess of Sulmona. Here he found
suitable recreation after the long anxiety of his military
labours, in this delightful city with its beautiful gardens
and palaces. . . ." In the previous May he had already
paid a visit to his home at Sabbioneta, where a medal was
struck to commemorate his warlike deeds, in which he was
thus addressed : " You alone remained as an example of
antique valour and spirit, and are held in immortal and
illustrious fame." We hear much of the splendid literary
society which gathered round the young prince at Naples,
and amongst others who gave brightness to his Court were
II Minturno, Bernardino Rota, Angelo di Costanza, and the
Bishop of Sessa, Galeazzo Florimonte. But we have no
allusion to his wife, and are left to wonder whether Diana
was still left in her lonely castle at Sabbioneta.
We are now drawing near to a terrible and mysterious
event relating to this lady — a most striking, and indeed
216
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astounding incident in the life of so cultured and admirably
trained a personage as Vespasiano Gonzaga. There is a
curious note of warning from his aunt Giulia, in a letter
written at Naples on January 30, 1559 :
" Most Illustrious Nephew and my Dearest Son,
— I have received your last letter of December, and as it
was only to send me good wishes for the festival, I will
not write much on this occasion. I will only say that the
affection with which you have shown me this attention,
was very dear to me ; and I pray Our Lord . . . that He
may grant you all your desires. I also rejoice in the news
you give me of your well-being, and by the grace of God I
also am well. And no more but to pray for your happiness
and long life." [So far was written by the secretary, but
a postscript is added in Giulia's own hasty, nervous
characters] (Autograph) :
" I wish well to the Signora Donna Diana, and therefore
I pray you to take care that she controls herself . . . and
this will be for your credit as well as mine. The Signora
Donna Ippolita is with me now . . . and I pray you to give
me news of yourself soon. May God grant you many years
of happiness."
Evidently some cloud hangs over Donna Diana, and she
is the cause of anxiety ; but all that happened later was so
carefully hushed up at the time, that I can only give the
story in the words of the latest historian of Sabbioneta : *
" When Vespasiano returned home from a long expedition
late in the year 1559, he had already been warned that his
wife had broken faith with him and that her lover was his
secretary, Annibale Raineri. The unfortunate girl may be
* Chevalier G. B. Intra, " Monografia sopra Sabbioneta."
217
A PRINCESS OF THE
said to have been married only in name, for the prince, her
husband, was always away at the wars. Furious at this
infidelity which wounded him in his tenderest point, his
honour and glory, Vespasiano's only desire was absolute
secrecy. After having long thought as to how he could
avenge himself without making his dishonour public, he
confided in his faithful companion in arms, Pier Antonio
Messirotto, and promised to follow his advice in every way.
This friend understood what his lord desired, and one
evening, in a chamber on the ground floor of the ducal
palace, he fought with Annibale Raineri and killed him.
" Then Vespasiano took his wife, led her to the chamber
where Annibale was lying dead, and pointing to the body,
he gave her a phial containing a deadly poison. ' Drink,'
said the cruel husband ; ' I spare you a public and infamous
death, only for the honour of my family.' Then shutting
her up in the chamber, he departed.
" The wretched woman hesitated to swallow the
poisoned draught; for two days she remained in mortal
anguish, while from time to time, through the keyhole, she
heard a well-known voice which called upon her to
' Drink ! drink !' On the third day, utterly worn out and
exhausted, she raised to her lips the fearful cup and
drank.
" Then the door was suddenly opened, and the Princess,
in the agony of death, was carried to her bed in the ducal
chamber, and the news was at once spread that she had
been suddenly seized by a fit of apoplexy, from which she
had not recovered. A solemn funeral was prepared, all the
Court was put in mourning, and Vespasiano himself
appeared in public, overcome with grief.
" But neither the pompous funeral ceremonies of the Prin-
cess nor the ostentatious mourning of the Prince deceived
218
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the citizens ; they were silent from respect, from prudence,
from fear ; but the horrible tragedy was known by all, and
the tradition was handed down from father to son until
our days."
Vespasiano wrote to his aunt Giulia Gonzaga :
" Sabbioneta,
" November 9, 1559.
" It has pleased God to call my wife to Himself ; she died
suddenly of apoplexy, without being able to speak a
word."
Is it possible for us to believe in the traditional account
of this tragedy ? Does it not seem incredible that a prince
of the highest character, distinguished for his culture and
refinement, should act in such barbarous fashion ? When
we think of his aunt — the Lady Giulia Gonzaga, the saintly
leader of a group of pious enthusiasts, whose letters so
constantly reveal her tenderness and pity, not only for the
sad and suffering but for the sinful — the contrast seems
too great to be possible. And yet we have to remember
that it was an age of the strangest and most startling
contrasts, and that with Vespasiano his ruling passion was
the honour of his family.
Incredible as it may seem, a trustworthy and critical
historian * assures us that " it would be difficult to give
any adequate idea of the frequency of wife-murders in
the higher ranks of society at this epoch, the second half
of the sixteenth century." A long list of instances follows.
The code of honour or theory of morality, appeared to
make it necessary for a husband to punish immorality by
at once inflicting the penalty of death upon the erring
wife and her lover. Only thus could the stain upon his
* Addington Symonds.
219
A PRINCESS OF THE
escutcheon be washed away. There are even instances,
as in the case of Violante de Cardona, Duchess of Pag-
liano* which occurred this same year (1559), when the
husband sends for his wife's brother to assist in doing
judgment.
We cannot close the sad story of Diana di Cardona
without remembering that a mystery hangs about her
from the first. If she was the " Diana di Cardona "
mentioned among the beautiful girls at the Court of
Charles V. in Naples (1538), she must have been some
years older than the youth Vespasiano, who was not yet
eighteen t at the time of his unfortunate marriage. Diana
was already betrothed to Cesare, the son of Don Ferrante
Gonzaga, and her elopement and secret wedding at Pia-
cenza violated all the conventions of the time, when
young girls had no voice of their own in such matters.
Of her ten years of married life we have only a fleeting
glimpse in the three letters written to her by Giulia Gon-
zaga, already quoted. We know that she lost her mother,
Donna Beatrice de Luna e Aragona, in 1553, and we have
no record of any friendly visit from kinsfolk or friends, to
break the dreary monotony of years of solitude spent in
lonely Sabbioneta, while her husband was engaged in
distant wars or travel. If she were inclined to be
frivolous and light-minded, without engrossing pursuits
or occupation, her pleasure-loving Southern nature must
have found a constant temptation to grasp at doubtful
and dangerous pleasures.
When the terrible Nemesis came upon her like a
* Pope Paul IV. had taken Pagliano from the Colonna family and
given it to his Caraffa nephew.
t Vespasiano was born in December, 1531, and was married in
1549-
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thunderbolt, she is not represented as making any
defence, any appeal for mercy to the stern judge who
carried out his own sentence ; and it seems to me that
no words can do justice to the overwhelming horror of
the prolonged agony which the unhappy woman endured
through the slow-creeping days and nights of her ordeal.
We seem to feel the awful presence of her dead lover—
" a sight to dream of, not to tell " — and we can only
marvel that life and reason endured, while that madden-
ing echo of " Beve ! beve /" * thrilled through every sensi-
tive nerve as the long hours of despair drove her onwards
to the fatal end.
With a sigh of pity we turn away from the unfortunate
lady who was too frail for her high and difficult position,
and for whom " the world went wrong." The whole
tragic incident appears to have been buried in oblivion ;
not a word of allusion is found in any contemporary
letters ; though, if such existed, it is of course possible
that everything incriminating was destroyed. Still, there
are various startling points to consider. Thus, how was
the sudden death by violence of Annibale Raineri ac-
counted for ? It is worthy of notice that a certain
Rinaldo Raineri (possibly a kinsman ?) is Vespasiano's
trusted agent at Sabbioneta for years to come, and many
friendly letters to him, from Giulia Gonzaga, prove that
he remained her intimate friend.
Meantime, the Lord Vespasiano Gonzaga remains
strangely untroubled and apparently free from remorse.
He has saved the honour of his name, which with him is
a ruling passion, for in his unbounded personal pride and
ambition, fame and glory are his watchwords. The pain-
ful episode is over, and his life is as flamboyant as ever ;
* " Drink ! drink !"
A PRINCESS OF THE
indeed, immediately after that fatal ninth of November
he begins to carry out a scheme of unrivalled magnificence
which has long been in his mind. It is nothing less than
the building of a splendid city, which shall carry his name
down to posterity, on the site of a straggling village, in
the midst of the low-lying marshes, where stood his here-
ditary Castello of Sabbioneta, the cradle of his race.
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CHAPTER XVII
Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna resolves to build a city at Sabbioneta,
1559 — How the great work was begun, according to the
teaching of Vitruvius — The most famous architects, sculptors,
carvers in wood, and artists of the day employed — Walls of red
brick, stone, and rare marbles for the palaces, colleges, churches,
city gates and triumphal arches — In three years the city rises
from the ground and is filled with inhabitants, at the command
of the Lord Vespasiano — He visits Spain and marries the
Princess Anna d' Aragona of the blood royal — Love and sym-
pathy of Giulia — There are born to him twin daughters,
Isabella and Giulia, and a son, Luigi.
Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna is the typical prince of
his age and of his country. His ambition to build a
city of his own is but the same passionate craving shown
everywhere by his countrymen. We still see traces in
every little Italian town of the towers which they could
not be restrained from building, each one higher than that
of his neighbour. They are not only magnificent in their
language and their dreams, but in their works they show
a wild audacity. A poor noble begins a simple manor-
house with a colossal entrance only suitable for giants ;
he seeks to scale the heavens, and is ruined before he
reaches the first floor; while his descendants live in
misery within the basement of a palace which is never
finished.
But this was also the age of sumptuous building, for
223
A PRINCESS OF THE
the wealthy despots of great cities held their power at
the price of magnificence, and the just medium between
classic simplicity and medieval massiveness, is shown in
many a beautiful cathedral and palace of this date.
Vespasiano was doubly fortunate in not only having the
ambition to build a city, but also the needful wealth and
lavish generosity to carry out his purpose.
" Thinking that his fame would be more lasting if he
were to build a city than to destroy one with the force
of armies, he conceived the magnanimous idea of building
one on his hereditary domain, both beautiful and well
fortified." With him the love of letters and of art, above
all that of architecture, was a real passion, and " no prince
of his day had such a knowledge of civil and military
architecture, for he had not only ardently studied all
modern books, but was a devoted disciple of the works
of Vitruvius, which he always had in his hands during
most of his life." His aim was to build his new
Sabbioneta in a style worthy of the ancient Romans, and
he called in the most famous architects, sculptors, and
artists of the day to assist him in this great work.
Impatient to begin, he turned for help to that ancient
Lombard Guild of Builders, a branch of the great
Comacine Guild, whose members inherited their place and
carried on their knowledge from father to son. The
Comacine Masters were early recognized as members of
a worldwide Order of Freemasons. To this branch
belonged those famous trade-marks, or symbols, the
Solomon's Knot— endless, with neither beginning nor end
— and the Lion of Judah. Wherever we find these tokens
engraved on the stone we know that here is the work
of the Lombard Guild. The members were " taught to
direct every action to the glory of the Lord, to live faithful
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to God and the Government, to lend themselves to the
public good and fraternal charity." There were set
statutes for everything, that there "might be no confusion,"
and all the work undertaken by the Guild was done by
the brethren and the novices under them, while manual
labourers were employed for the rougher and unskilled
work. It is specially enacted that brickmakers and
quarrymen must abide by the rules of the Guild, and it
is interesting to notice the amount of pay received : thus,
a labourer has 3 soldi a day ; an ordinary mason, 1 J lire ;
a carpenter, 1 lira ; a " builder " has 15 ducats a
month, with supplies of corn, wood, and wine, and an
abode for his family — in one instance, this stands in an
orchard with quinces. The salary of the chief architect
was 10 imperial soldi a day, raised to 10 gold florins
a month. If a master does manual work with his men,
he is paid extra to his salary as architect.
The rules concerning a festa must be strictly kept, and
forty-nine of these are specially mentioned. There is a
fine of 5 soldi to be paid by any man who works on a
festa. On November 2, the Feast of the Dead, each
master has to offer a wax candle weighing half a pound.
A great workshop, the laborerum, is constructed, where
all the hewing of stone, the carving of columns, and the
cutting of woodwork, is to be done. There is a special
opera fabbrica (office for architects), where all orders are
given for materials, and where payment is made for the
work and for the goods. Of this council Vespasiano, the
master-builder, is president, and under him work the
treasurer, the secretary, and many others. We have an
account of many of these orders and the price paid ;
thus, sheets of parchment for making the designs cost
1 lira a sheet ; 104 pounds of linseed-oil are ordered
225 15
A PRINCESS OF THE
at 28 denari the pound. Then follows a long list, " ropes,
nails, polishers, water-levels, red paint," etc.
The utmost care is taken in securing the best building
materials ; a master is specially sent to Carrara to choose
the marble, which must be " very white, and without vein
or stain of colour." The granite is obtained from Elba,
and also some from Sardinia; a certain red stone was
brought from Bolsena, and in the quarries of Umbria
there was a white stone which could be cut with a saw,
and which was most valuable for carving. A stonecutter
could polish the slabs until they looked like marble. The
River Po, being close at hand, all heavy building materials
could easily be brought by water, while the blocks of
stone would be unladen from the barges into rough country
carts, drawn by strong white oxen. The great mass of the
building would consist of bricks, made in kilns near by,
thin in shape, somewhat like Roman tiles, and of excellent
clay, which baked smooth and hard and of a beautiful
deep red colour.
Meantime, the most important work was being done in
the opera fabbrica, where careful plans were drawn out by
the maestro del disegno, under the direction of Vespasiano,
who prided himself upon his mathematical skill, and who
referred in everything to the teaching of Vitruvius. Thus
he decided that his city should be built with long, straight,
wide streets, crossing each other at right angles, and that
the houses should be only of medium height, "to give
light and air to my people." For had not the great
Vitruvius explained that it was the want of ground
which had caused the inconvenient practice of raising the
houses to a great height in the air, which was the cause
of frequent accidents, so that Augustus and Nero had
passed laws against the height of private edifices ? The
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new city was to be of hexagonal form, surrounded by
walls, with a moat outside, and with two gates and a
circuit of about 2,500 metres, the wall measurements
being taken with the usual iron yard-measure, made the
exact length of the Calimala canna,* and thus the great
work actually began.
We can vaguely picture to ourselves the busy scene
which followed — a whole army of labourers to dig out
the foundations; of bricklayers to build the walls, with
the red bricks carefully laid in place so as to " break
bond" (placed in alternate layers), and cemented together
with that wonderful mortar which seems to last for ever.
Then the carpenters set to work at their scaffoldings,
which make the whole place look like a great wood-yard,
for they are not here restricted by the stern rules, which,
in a city like Florence, compel them to remove all shavings,
sawdust, and litter without delay, and to leave no timber
more than a foot's width beyond the wall. Soon we hear
resounding the significant music of the trowel, the chisel,
the hammer, and the plane, and every nerve is strained
to make rapid progress under the eye of the princely
master-builder. The houses begin to rise on each side
of the broad street ; buildings of fine aspect, well-propor-
tioned, and mostly with porticoes. Great works are
planned for the vast rectangular Piazza Maggiore, where
the most important and beautiful edifices are to be
gathered together. Here the great ducal palace of the
Gonzaga prince will rise in all its splendour, the beautiful
Church of " the Assumption of the Virgin Mary," various
smaller palatial buildings, another church, and, later on,
a theatre. At the farther end of the city, near the
fortifications, we shall see in due time another great
* The measure of cloth, of the Calimala Guild.
227
A PRINCESS OF THE
piazza, close to the Via Giulia ; and beyond the great
gallery, raised on a portico of twenty-six round arcades
in red brick, another palace, " del Giardino," in the midst
of a garden, with a shady colonnade and fountained court,
where Vespasiano and his Court will be able to fancy
themselves in villagiatura. At the entrance of the city
there was to be first a stone bridge, with two marble
boundary stones, one on each side, then a great triumphal
arch, and one of the two magnificent city gates which
remain to this day — the Gate of Victory and the Imperial
Gate.
Meantime, Vespasiano remained at his post, full of
eager interest in the building of his city; still, as the
months passed on, there came over him a longing for
the stir and movement of war — that active military life
which he had enjoyed for years past. But the Treaty
of Cateau Cambresis, concluded in April, 1559, had given
peace to Europe, and at present there was no demand
for his services. There had been many changes during
the last few years; Mary of England, who had been
accepted as a wife by Philip II., from a sense of duty
to his religion and his country, had died in 1558, and
Queen Elizabeth had made peace with the French King,
who was to hold Calais for eight years. The Emperor
Charles V. had also died in 1558, in the Monastery of
Yuste, just too soon to see the seal set upon his labours
by the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis, which brought to an
end the contest of sixty years. Pope Paul IV., the fiery
supporter of the Inquisition, had been succeeded by a
man of very different character, Pius IV. (Giovanni Angelo
Medici, of a middle-class Milanese family), who was much
surprised at his own elevation.
Vespasiano Gonzaga first thought of going to Spain,
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but, as there seemed no opening for him, he paid a visit
to Naples, where he was gladly welcomed by his aunt
Giulia, and by his mother, the Princess of Sulmona.
The next spring he went to Rome in the company of the
Duke of Alva, and did homage to Pope Pius IV., who
granted him certain favours which he desired for the
Church in his State. Then he returned to Sabbioneta,
and devoted himself with enthusiasm to the great work,
which was being carried out " without sparing pains or
expense, as beautiful and perfect as he could imagine."
The vast scheme of the master-builder had indeed
grown into reality with the most marvellous rapidity,
and seemed almost to rise from the ground like magic.
Vespasiano had commanded the city to appear, and
within less than three years we find it actually in exist-
ence, and his new palace in the Piazza Maggiore is ready
to be the scene of a magnificent wedding festival, on
the occasion of the marriage of his young half-sister, the
daughter of the Prince of Sulmona, with the Count of
Potenza. We can picture the wonder and admiration of
the guests at the splendid scene which met their eyes —
stately churches and porticoes rising in fair symmetry
against the blue sky, the richly carved portal and arcades,
the graceful columns and arched windows ; all the fine
arts so indispensable to architecture called into service —
painters, sculptors, wood-carvers and inlayers, metal-
workers, and artists in fresco and stucco. Thus the new
city rose, beautiful in the sunshine, with its massive
geranium-coloured walls, its bridges and triumphal gates.
The palace itself was a triumph of Vespasiano's taste
and magnificence, and as the glittering cavalcade rode
gaily through the broad paved streets into the spacious
courtyard, they could not restrain their enthusiasm at
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A PRINCESS OF THE
the sight of the carved portals, the beautiful loggia with
its delicate bronze columns, and the magnificent facade
covered with frescoes from the base to the cornice.
These were admirably executed by Bernardino Campi,*
and represented, in the upper part, the Assumption of
the Madonna, on an immense scale ; and underneath the
loggia, between the two central windows, were great
angels holding the arms of Vespasiano, while his name
and titles were repeated everywhere on the lintels of
marble at all the windows. Within the palace there were
fresh surprises. A vast marble staircase led to the first
floor, full of treasures of art, with a series of splendid
chambers opening one out of each other ; the ceilings gilt
and inlaid, hung with rare tapestries, and adorned with
works of art, which Vespasiano and his father had been
collecting all their lives.
We have a very full account of the festivities with
which the wedding of the young princess was celebrated.
There were spectacles of all kinds ; comedies were acted,
and there was music, dancing, and feasting at sumptuous
banquets, for indoor amusements. In the open air, pallone
was played with unrivalled success through the wide
streets of the as yet uninhabited city. A splendid tourna-
ment was also set on foot, in which the Lord Vespasiano
and his Captain of the Guard, Bartolommeo Majocci,
maintained the proud position of defenders of the barrier.
That nothing might be wanting to the magnificence of
the noble master-builder, "he scattered amongst the
spectators great abundance of gold and silver from his
own Mint." This privilege of a sovereign was his by
hereditary right, and he was not one to forego the smallest
* A pupil of Giulio Romano, who had painted many frescoes in
the churches of Cremona.
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of his claims which might add to the dignity of his
city, which was all the universe to him. The Mint of
Sabbioneta* was under the direction of Andrea Cavalli,
the Maestro della Zecca of the Calimala Guild, who was
also skilled in all metal-working, and had done splendid
work in the casting of statues and cannons ; and to him
also is due the base and capitals of bronze of the column
of Pallas on the great Piazza.
The months which followed his sister's wedding fes-
tivities were full of arduous labour alike for Vespasiano
and for all the army of skilled workmen in his service,
for he had set his mind upon completing his city and
rendering it habitable as soon as possible, although all
the rest of his life would scarcely be long enough to
beautify it and add to its treasures. Sabbioneta had risen
from the dust at his word, "a noble city adorned with
peace and wealth," and now it only remained for him to
fill it with inhabitants. This might have been a difficulty
to some people, but to this Gonzaga prince it was quite a
simple matter. Life was short in those days, and there
was no time to waste, so he made a formal proclamation
on September 27 in the year of grace 1562 :
" By order of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent
Lord Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna, Marchese of Sab-
bioneta, etc. ... It is his will and command that all the
people living under his dominion to whom it is suitable to
live the life of citizens — all bourgeois, artists and artisans,
men of trades, officials, and others — should leave the
country lands and find themselves, with all their families
. . . dwelling within our new city before the eighth day
* The coins of Sabbioneta are very rare and beautiful. Those of
gold have the arms of Vespasiano, with the " column," and this
motto on the reverse : " Fortitudo et laus mea Dominus."
231
A PRINCESS OF THE
of the coming month of October. . . . After that date
every loiterer shall pay a fine of ioo scudi, or, failing
that, shall receive ire tratti di cordia . . ." The com-
mand is signed by Vespasiano and his secretary, Muzio
Capilupi.
Thus it came to pass ; no sooner was the town built
than it was inhabited. The motto " Libertas," which this
prince was so fond of repeating everywhere on his walls,
really meant that he was free to do what he liked. But
this was not all, for the "Pericles of this New Athens"
was not satisfied with merely bringing his subjects within
his walls ; he also " now seeks to make of them rare and
admirable scholars," and that, too, without loss of time.
He therefore makes another proclamation on September 6,
two days before the people are required to be settled in
their new home :
" Nos, Vespasianus Gonzaga Colonna . . . having a
passionate desire to fill our city of Sabbioneta, recently
founded by us, with a considerable number of inhabitants,
and also, above all, to adorn and decorate it, not only
with the mechanical arts necessary to life, but also with
all the ' humanities ' and liberal teaching ' without which
it is not possible to live well ' ... we have founded a
new Literary Academy, where Greek, Latin, and omnem
humanitatem shall be taught free of expense, with open
doors to all comers ... to the people of Sabbioneta and
alieni. (By these strangers [alieni] is meant people from
the neighbouring towns and villages — Cremona, Mantua,
Gazzuolo, Casalmaggiore, etc.). ... A Professor has been
chosen amongst the most famous in Italy, to lecture upon
and explain Greek and Latin authors every day, except on
festivals. ... He is to receive a large fixed salary."
The chosen Professor was indeed a famous man, of
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
great knowledge and mature age — Mario Nizolio, who
had published, a few years before, a treatise against
" Philosophers so called," in which he announced that
he established the true principles of all the arts and
sciences. It was quite natural that the Professor should
inaugurate his teaching with a splendid Latin oration to
the honour and glory of his noble patron. This was
printed, and still exists, but it is too long to quote.*
Indeed, at this time everybody praised him, either in
prose or verse, and perhaps the most interesting speci-
men of the general laudation is a sonnet of Bernardino
Baldi :
" Da queste antiche, e celebrate carte,
Che del tempo vorace, e da gli incendi
Intatte usciro, invitto Duce, apprendi
Le legge di colei, cui serve ogni arte.
E mentre ammiran gli altri a terra sforte
De prischi 1' opre, tu con lor contendi :
Tu le sue meraviglie al mondo rendi,
Mentr' ergi appresso al Po gran moli a Marte
Or se si tenne il buon Romano a gloria
Sol de 1' aver le sue paterne mura,
Che di terra trovo, cinte di marmi :
Qual di te spieghera vivace istoria
Eterne todi ad ogni, eta. futura,
Se Citta fondi, e lui pareggi in armi 1"
At this time it seemed as though Vespasiano Gonzaga
had attained the very height of his pomp and glory, but he
was one of those favourites of Fortune to whom everything
succeeds, and higher honours still were in store for him.
He had always enjoyed the friendship of the King of
Spain, Philip II., since those long past days when he
served him as a noble page. On this King's accession to
* Delivered on the Feast of San Niccolo, December 6, 1562,
Vespasiano's birthday.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
the throne, the Lord of Sabbioneta was raised to the rank
of a Grandee of Spain, with the privilege " of remaining
with his head covered in the presence of the Sovereign."
Early in 1564, Vespasiano paid a visit to the Court of
Spain, where he was received with great honour, and made
the acquaintance of the Princess Anna d' Aragona, the
younger sister of the Duke of Segovia, whose great grand-
father, Don Arrigo, was a brother of King Ferdinand the
Catholic. This lady was, therefore, of royal blood, and cousin
in the fourth degree of King Philip II. Her high position
was naturally a great attraction to the Gonzaga prince ; but
Donna Anna appears to have been also " very charming
and gentle," and a marriage was arranged between them,
which took place with great magnificence in the Cathedral
of Valencia on May 8, 1564. Soon afterwards Vespasiano
returned with his bride to Sabbioneta, where they were
welcomed with a splendid triumphal proceession, and were
received with enthusiasm on their entry into the city.
A peaceful and happy time followed for Vespasiano ; he
was devotedly attached to his wife, and together they
watched over the continued decoration and beautifying of
the wonderful city. Nothing was wanting for their com-
plete satisfaction, when the Princess Anna gave birth to
twin daughters. They received the names of Giulia, after
the beloved aunt to whom their father was so much
indebted, and Isabella, after his own mother. Giulia
Gonzaga wrote frequent affectionate letters to her nephew,
and took the greatest interest in his wife and the two baby-
girls. She was in failing health, and it had been a great
trial to her that she was unable to travel so far as Sabbio-
neta, to see the beautiful city, or make the acquaintance of
his wife and children. But in those days there was great
mortality amongst children, and little Giulia, her namesake,
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
had passed away after a few brief months of existence.
When Giulia wrote on November 3, 1565, to Vespasiano,
she says :
" I cannot tell you how thankful I am to hear that my
Signora Donna Anna and Donna Isabella are well ; you
know how dear they are to me, and I rejoice above all, that
you are in good health. May God preserve you all and
may He bestow upon my Signora Anna a beautiful boy
with every blessing." The Countess of Fondi takes the
greatest interest in all that concerns her nephew, and with
a broad view of the interests of her country she is much
troubled at the fresh incursions of the Turks near Malta.
As we shall see later, her chief thought and care is devoted
to her friends who are persecuted for their Faith, and
whom she helps with her influence and wealth, being most
generous with her money for the support of those who
have been compelled to flee from their country.
She constantly sends affectionate messages to Donna
Anna, and to the little "Donna Isabellica" as she lovingly
calls her ; but her days were drawing towards their close,
and she was never destined to see the child. However,
her hopes were gratified by the birth of a son to Donna
Anna on December 27, and she rejoiced to hear that he
was called Luigi, after her dearly loved brother, the babe's
grandfather, Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga. There was a
magnificent christening feast, and congratulations poured
in from all sides, for was not this the attainment and
crown of all Vespasiano's hopes. He had a son and heir
to inherit his greatness and carry on his mighty works ;
years of happy married life spread out in a vista before
him, with a race of heroes growing up around his hearth,
destined to carry on to posterity the pomp and glory of
the Gonzaga family. Latin epigrams poured in upon the
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A PRINCESS OF THE
proud father, and the fortunate poets received munificent
rewards. The Gonzaga prince took fresh interest in his
various possessions ; he paid a visit to Fondi in April, and
then went on to Rome to claim his grandfather's lands at
Pagliano, which had long been usurped by the Caraffa
family. The Pope received him well, and sent a band of
his cavaliers to escort the honoured guest back to Sabbio-
neta. On his way he met the Princess Maria of Portugal,
wife of Alessandro Farnese, entertained her for a night at
his own Castle of Rivarola, and then courteously accom-
panied her on to Parma.
Full of good-will to all men, he magnanimously settled
a dispute with his cousins regarding the possession of
Comessaggio, by giving up part of his rights, and dividing
the lands with them. He renewed his old friendship with
his kinsmen at Mantua, where the young Duke Guglielmo
had now come of age, and had married the Princess
Eleonora of Austria. On the death of the Emperor
Ferdinand, Vespasiano had hastened to pay homage to
Maximilian II. on his accession, and obtained the favour
that Sabbioneta should be held direct from the Holy
Roman Empire, and that he himself should have the right
of using the arms of Austria, which he had carved every-
where on his city — an eagle with two heads and the
motto, " Libertas." Surely Fortune had nothing more to
offer him !
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ITALIAN REFORMATION
CHAPTER XVIII
Persecution of the Reformers under the Caraffa Pope, Paul IV. —
Giulia and her friends in peril — The colony of Waldenses in
Calabria hunted down like wild beasts — Giulia refuses to seek
safety in flight — Her letters to Carnesecchi and others — Her
generous help to all — The death of Paul IV. (1559) a providence
for her — Failure of the Council of Trent — Death of the Cardinals
Seripando and Gonzaga (1563) — Milder rule of Pius IV. — He is
succeeded by Michele Ghislieri, Pope Pius V., a violent In-
quisitor, in January, 1566 — Urgent peril of Giulia Gonzaga ; her
death, in April, 1566, a merciful escape from the flames of the
Inquisition — Her noble character and inspiring letters.
It would be difficult to find any greater contrast than that
between the life and the interests of Vespasiano and his
aunt, Giulia Gonzaga. As we have seen, his heart was set
upon that worldly honour and greatness of which so large
a share was already his, while Giulia had learnt to realize
with almost saintly resignation that " here we have no
abiding city," and all her hopes were set upon that
heavenly shore to which she was drawing so near. But
although she now lived entirely in the convent of San Fran-
cesco delle Monache, it was from no wish to shelter herself
in peaceful seclusion from the troublous times around her.
With her keen sympathy and unshaken courage, Giulia
was ever in the midst of the battle, sharing all the dangers
and anxieties of her friends, ever strengthening them by
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A PRINCESS OF THE
her words and her example, and supporting them in perse-
cution and exile by her worldly wealth.
The Pontificate of the Caraffa Pope, Paul IV., was a
cruel time, when all freedom of thought was stamped out
by the Inquisition. The words in which Peter Martyr
writes of Lucca might be applied to the persecution of
every other centre of Reform. " How can I refrain from
lamentations when I think that such a pleasant garden as
the Reformed Church at Lucca has been utterly laid waste
by cruel persecution ? . . ." Then he adds : " These tried
and brave soldiers of Christ will not fly, because they are
determined by their martyrdom and blood, to open a way
for the progress of the Gospel in their native country. . . .
Yet this awful catastrophe is to be deplored with tears
rather than words."
At Naples many were thrown into prison and not
a few were sent to Rome, where, nobly proclaiming their
Faith, they were exposed to the last fiery ordeal. Many,
as we have seen, were compelled to leave Italy, for it was
not given to all to be worthy of the martyr's crown. But
when the deadly work was supposed to be accomplished
in Naples, the Inquisitors went farther afield on their
mission of destruction.
More than two centuries before, certain colonies of the
Vaudois, or Waldenses, who had fled from their country
on account of religion, had settled in a barren part of
Calabria Citeriore, and there, leading peaceful and
laborious lives, had " made the desert to blossom like the
rose." They numbered about four thousand persons, and
their two chief cities were La Guarda and Santo Xisto,
on the coast. When rumours of the new reformed
doctrine reached them, they were most eager to be taught
the more perfect way, as in the course of generations they
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had lost much of the simpler form of worship of their
ancestors. As soon as this was known at Rome, two
monks were sent by the Inquisition to reduce the
Waldenses to obedience to the Holy See. When the
people refused, a stern order was put forth for their
destruction ; companies of soldiers were sent against them,
and a number of banniti proscribed for crimes were
called in to help. The unfortunate people, who had taken
refuge in the woods, were hunted like wild beasts, their
cities were destroyed by fire and sword, and, after tortures
unspeakable, and atrocities too terrible for words, the
whole colony of Waldenses was ruthlessly exterminated.
We see in the letters of Giulia Gonzaga what a terrible
impression this made upon her; she was powerless to
help, but her courage was unshaken. Many of her friends,
who had been fellow-pupils of V aides with her, were in
great danger; Cardinal Morone, Priuli, and others, were
thrown into prison in Rome, and she never knew who
would be the next victim of the Inquisition. She was
much grieved on hearing of the death of Cardinal Pole,
in 1558, and her letters at this time show how deeply
her meditation was fixed on the great change, and on
preparation for the passage from the terrestrial to the
celestial life. So many of her friends had passed " behind
the veil " not very long before, and amongst others she
lamented the loss of her devoted friend, the poet Molza,
and her former secretary, Gandolfo Porrino. But in the
letters which passed between Giulia Gonzaga and Pietro
Carnesecchi we find another cause of regret in the last
words of Cardinal Pole. Carnesecchi writes : " . . . But
that which matters more is a declaration and almost
a protestation made by His Reverence that he had always
held the Pope, and this one in particular [Paul IV.] to be
239
A PRINCESS OF THE
the true successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ, and
that he had always revered and obeyed him as such, nor
had he differed from him in anything, nor from the
opinion of the Roman Church. . . ." Another letter
from Carnesecchi to Giulia in February, 1559, is very
important on this subject: "... It has pleased me
wonderfully that Donna Giulia has not approved the
declaration made by the Cardinal of England, being
superfluous, not to say scandalous, especially at this
time. . . . What a difference from the teaching of
Valdes, and how this verifies the proverb, 'The end
shows forth the life, the evening praises the day ' ! Let
us, indeed, thank God that our Faith does not depend
upon men, nor is it founded upon the sand, but upon the
living stone [fiietra], upon which in the same way have
built the Apostles and the Prophets and all the other elect
and saints of God, Whom may it please to grant us grace
to live and die in the same Faith, to His glory."*
Carnesecchi writes to raise the thoughts of his friend
on the subject of Death, and bids her not fear to " tread
the way which has been trodden by our Saviour Christ,
who in dying has triumphed over death and conquered
it, so that it can no more harm us. . . . But why, you
may ask, do I reason concerning death ? Because we
should become so domesticated with the thought of it,
that we should no more fear it, not for ourselves or for
others. ... It is but the gate of life, through which,
having passed, we are free from all the infinite troubles
and labours of this life, and above all we are safe from the
danger of sinning and offending God, which is the true
death of the soul. ..." The letter ends with a touching
* This letter was made great use of in the trial of Carnesecchi by
the Inquisition.
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allusion to the fact of Cardinal Pole having died six hours
after his friend Queen Mary :
" Courage ! I only pray God that He will preserve my
Donna Giulia, and if He should desire to take her before
me, at least may He grant me the favour He has bestowed
upon the Cardinal of England, which is that I also may
quickly follow my Queen. Amen. Amen."
In looking through the immense number of letters
which have been preserved of Giulia Gonzaga's, we are
much struck by the extreme interest which she takes
in all the religious questions of the day, and her extra-
ordinary activity of mind. Her incessant correspondence
— sometimes she wrote as many as three letters in one
week to Carnesecchi — all turns upon the propagation of
certain ideas, on the publication of congenial writings,
on the use of her influence to advance the career of
various prelates, on seeking and obtaining news of friends
driven into exile by the Inquisition. A great number of
these are written in cipher, for the safety of those who
received her letters, as the Inquisition was already
suspicious of her as a disciple of Valdes, and kept a strict
watch upon her and her friends. We have seen the
extreme care she took in sending letters to her dear
Isabella Brisegna at Piacenza, and it was the same in all
other cases.
A very interesting letter of Giulia Gonzaga has been
preserved in a collection of " Letters of Many Brave
Women, in which it is clearly shown that they are
inferior neither in eloquence nor in knowledge to men."*
It is addressed to Livia Negra, apparently some dependent
of hers :
* Gabriel Giolito di Ferrari, MDXLVIII. Carte liv. Venezia.
241 16
A PRINCESS OF THE
" I have learnt with great displeasure that a certain
rogue of an alchemist has come to you, and with false
persuasion has so perverted your mind as to make you
believe that one element can be transmuted into another
— that from a branch silver may be made, and that silver
can be converted into gold. It is certainly a strange thing
that these thieves, beggars, and fools should wish to en-
rich someone else, and should care more for the poverty
and misery of others than for their own beggarly con-
dition ! What mad credulity is ours ! How infinite is the
cupidity of mortals ! For what should we do if we had
to remain in this world perpetually?* We cannot in-
habit a house for three days in this miserable world
without being dissatisfied.
"Truly, we are like drunkards, who, the more they
drink, the more their thirst grows ; for we cannot re-
member that we are mortal, and that we have one day
to leave all things behind us ; for naked we came into this
world, and naked we shall depart hence. . . . Would
you like me, Madonna Livia, to teach you a true and
beautiful alchemy ? Lay up for yourself treasure in
heaven, where thieves do not break through and steal,
where the rust doth not consume, nor the moth gnaw and
destroy. That which is acquired by evil means is no
gain, but a great and dangerous loss. The promises of
the alchemist are like those of the astrologers, who boast
that they can foretell future things, and do not even know
the present or the past, and yet they dare to profess that
they can reveal heavenly matters as if they were ever
present at the council of God. I do not really know
whether their fraud is more shameful, or our folly in
t Some alchemists professed to have a magic drug for lengthening
life indefinitely.
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believing, as we do, that which is worthy of- all contempt.
Look within yourself, Madonna Livia, and if your power
does not correspond to your desires, at least place a rein
upon them, and then you will not devote yourself to
alchemy."
We see clearly from this letter how far advanced the
broad intelligence of Giulia was beyond the superstitions
of her day, and her splendid courage was equal to her
intellect.
During the persecution set on foot by Pope Paul IV.
against those who held the new doctrines, Giulia Gonzaga
was strongly advised to follow the example of those who
had fled to a land of free thought and liberty, but she
refused to listen to such advice. She wrote to inform
Pietro Carnesecchi of her resolution, and in this letter
(which was sequestrated), as he declared to his judges of
the Inquisition, " La Signora was determined not to leave
Naples, as she was strongly pressed to do, that she might
avoid the perils of the Inquisition, saying that she would
not be moved by imaginary fears, which often proved
fallacious . . . yet she quite understood her danger, for
she admitted that she knew the ill-will of the Pope and
Cardinal Caraffa towards her. . . . There is no doubt
that she meant on account of her religious views, knowing
that she was in evil case in the opinion of His Holiness
on account of her close friendship and intimacy with
Valdes."
Giulia knew how important it was that she should
remain at her post as a protection to her friends, and a
link with those who had already made their escape and
their families. Generous and devoted, she distributed a
great part of her fortune amongst the exiles for their
Faith, and she willingly gave her support to her own
243
A PRINCESS OF THE
servants, Ventura and Paolo, when they appealed to her,
and assisted them in their flight to Geneva, which at that
time seemed to have become the stationary fortress of the
Reformers. In this case there was a doubt whether, if
her attendants were arrested, they might not compromise
others by want of thought or knowledge. But she dis-
suaded Carnesecchi from this extreme step, perhaps
feeling that it would ruin his career and cut him off
from his friends. No doubt she had also great faith in
the influence of powerful prelates at Rome, and could not
believe that he would be in real peril, as he had neither
written nor openly preached the new doctrines.
There are so many letters which passed between these
two friends that we can only allude to a few. Thus, on
February 25, 1559, Carnesecchi writes " that although
Donna Giulia may not always quite agree with his views,
yet he has no doubt that she is guided and led by the
Spirit of God, and that in consequence, she cannot be
suffered to err in a matter of so much importance to her
welfare and that of others. The advice which Your High-
ness has given to the parents of Donna Isabella [Brisegna]
to make their retreat with their daughter, appears to me
most wise and according to your usual prudence. . . ."
In another letter, he expresses his satisfaction at not having
followed the example of those who fled :
" I give thanks to God and to Donna Giulia who, I often
say, is like a fixed star whose light directs us in our course
through the midst of the darkness of this blind world ; and
by her example guards us from many dangers, for we
might easily have fallen over a deep precipice. . . ." Then
follow many letters during the illness of Paul IV., speak-
ing of the hopes and fears of the imprisoned Cardinal
Morone and others; then at last he sends news of the
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Pope's death, and the wild joy with which the populace
burnt the offices of the Inquisition and set free the
prisoners :
" Your Ladyship will have heard how the Holy Inquisi-
tion has died the same death which it was accustomed to
inflict upon others — that of fire. This certainly remains a
notable thing, from which it appears the judgments of that
Office were not pleasing to the Divine Clemency, and we
trust that in the future there may be less rigour and
severity than in the past."
But above all, the death of Paul IV. was a providence for
Donna Giulia, for so Carnesecchi records it in a letter sent
on September 9, 1559 : " I have rejoiced at the departure
of the Pope for all respects, public and private ; but above
all, I am most deeply thankful from having heard that if
he had not passed away so soon he would have given the
death-stroke to Donna Giulia ... in all that happened we
believe that we see the mercy of God, who permitted this
in order to save Donna Giulia, and for the love of her, all
her friends and servants."
Next we have an account of the Conclave, when for a
time it seemed possible that either Cardinal Morone or
Cardinal Gonzaga of Mantua might be elected. But
ultimately the choice fell upon Cardinal Medici, not one
of the great Florentine family, but of lowly Milanese
origin. He took the name of Pius IV., and was in every
way a contrast to the Inquisitor and fanatic, the haughty
ruler of kings, who had preceded him. Learned, kindly,
and of exemplary life, he only wished to live at peace with
all men, and he appointed his nephew, Carlo Borromeo,
the pointed Bishop of Milan, as his Secretary of State, to
look after the interests of the Church, and set an example
of piety to the clergy. Soon after the election of Pius IV.,
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A PRINCESS OF THE
the state of Europe made the calling of a General Council
absolutely necessary. England was already alienated,
Scotland was on the verge of Protestantism, the
Huguenots were growing stronger in France, the Confes-
sion of Augsburg was recognized in Germany, all Scandi-
navia was lost to the old Faith, and German Switzerland
was a stronghold of Reform.
After endless delay and opposition, the Council of Trent
finally opened on January 15, 1562. Amongst the five
Legates sent by Pius IV., the Cardinals Gonzaga and
Seripando were intimate friends of Giulia Gonzaga, and
kept her informed of the proceedings, in which she took
the keenest interest. She always maintained an eager
hope that with this new Pope, some compromise might be
made, alike in doctrine and in Church discipline, which
would secure the unity of the Christian Church ; but in
this she was destined to be grievously disappointed.
Girolamo Seripando, Archbishop of Salerno, formerly
General of the Augustinians, an elderly prelate* of great
learning and piety, had been for years an intimate friend
of Giulia Gonzaga, of whom we find him speaking in the
highest terms, in his many letters which have been pre-
served. In February, 1561, she congratulates him, in an
autograph letter, on being made Cardinal, and she thanks
God, " to Whom alone is due your promotion, and I pray
that you may have health and a long life to fulfil all our
fervent hopes . . . and also that you may be able to keep
your promise. . . ."f In August of this year, 1561,
Seripando hears that the Signora Giulia has been ill with
fever, and he expresses his regret to a friend I in Naples,
* He was born in 1493.
t This was to publish the religious writings of Cardinal Pole.
J Placido di Sangra.
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saying that he also had suffered from fever, and had not
recovered until he had left the close city for Posilipo . . .
and he sends an urgent message to Giulia, begging her to
leave the convent, as in this hot weather she needs " a
little air," and if she will not be persuaded (he adds
playfully) that the first article he will propose to the
Council will be that " ladies be not allowed to live in
convents unless they become nuns."
Writing to the same friend in January, 1562, he
remarks that " if the Signora Donna Giulia 111™ 1 approves
of a certain work of his, he may be sure that it cannot
be harmed by ' nee Jovis ira nee ignes.' "
In a long letter from Trent, written in December, 1561,
Seripando had given a most interesting account of his
journey from Naples, of his anxious waiting for the
coming of the expected members of the Council, of
the difficulty in persuading France and Spain to send
their prelates, and other troubles and anxieties ; he ends
by recommending himself to her special prayers, and
implores our Lord God to preserve her in health and
happiness.
It would be too long to give an account of the worries
and difficulties of this famous Council, of which the Pope
himself said " that it resembled the Tower of Babel
rather than a Synod of Fathers." It dragged its weary
length for many months, and closed in December, 1563,'
with " an act of submission to the Pope." Pius IV. had
been quite willing to insist upon the strictest internal
reform of the corrupt clergy, but his triumph was that
he maintained the Roman supremacy and the cardinal
doctrines of Latin Christianity unimpeached. Meantime
Giulia's two friends — the Cardinals Seripando and
Gonzaga — had both died at Trent in March, 1563, to
247
A PRINCESS OF THE
her great and lasting sorrow. Yet, in the midst of all
her own troubles and afflictions, she never failed to keep
up her interest in all that happened to others, of good
fortune or bad. Thus, on the marriage of her kinsman
Duke Guglielmo with the Princess Eleonora of Austria,
she wrote a charming letter of congratulation to the
bride, deeply regretting that her infirmities did not allow
her to travel to Mantua and be present to welcome her.
" To the Duchess of Mantua.
" Naples,
" April 16, 1561.
"... If ever for my own sake ... I have been
troubled about my failing health and the indisposition
from which I suffer, to-day I grieve over it with all my
soul, because it is for this reason that I am absolutely
unable to be present at Mantua to wait upon the coming
of Your Royal Highness to Mantua, and to take part in
this universal rejoicing of the Gonzaga family. But as I
am not able to amend the defects of nature, nor in any
other way has it been possible for me to give proof of my
great respect and affection towards you, I have wished at
least to send the Mag c0 mes r Romano Assago to present
my respects to Your Highness, and to say how I rejoice
with all my heart at this happy marriage concluded
between you and the Signor Duca nostr. Ecc mo ."*
We have already seen how constantly she kept in
touch with her nephew Vespasiano, sharing all his joys
and sorrows, and most deeply regretting that her delicate
health had prevented her from being present on the great
occasion of his proclaiming his city open to all inhabitants.
* Archivio Gonzaga, Mantua.
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In March, 1563, at the time when she lost her two dear
friends at Trent, another great bereavement awaited her.
We have seen with what constant affection she had
watched over the chequered life of her dearly loved
Ippolita, Duchess of Mondragone, the daughter of her
friend, Ferrante Gonzaga. After a brief illness of nine
days, this charming lady, at the early age of twenty-eight,
passed away from the loving care of Giulia Gonzaga.
The following quotations are from a letter written to
Vespasiano by Ippolita's husband, full of grief and
remorse :
" I remain so afflicted and disconsolate from this most
bitter event, which affords me such a sad occasion of
writing to Your Lordship, that it is with great difficulty
I can send you this most grievous news. My Duchess is
dead, and I do not know how I have remained alive yet
at the same time buried in eternal sorrow. To relate
briefly how it happened. . . . On the first of March she
was attacked by a little fever and headache, but on the
7th of the month, she was so much better that she thought
of asking the doctor's permission to leave her bed. Then
suddenly, at the 18th hour of the same day, she was
seized with violent pain, and in the night, about the 7th
hour of Wednesday the 8th instant — the most Illustrious
Signora Giulia Gonzaga being present, having with her
usual devotion kept loving watch from the beginning to
the end — my wife passed away from this life, leaving me
in despair. . . ." The Duke of Mondragone then alludes
to the death of Ercole Gonzaga, Cardinal of Mantua,
which had occurred at Trent on March 2, as an
additional grief for Giulia.
We have further particulars about Ippolita in some
letters written by II Tansillo to Onerata Tancredi, both
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A PRINCESS OF THE
friends of the Countess of Fondi : "... At last God took
to himself this noble spirit . . . the Princess having com-
municated on the Sunday before, when she felt better, as
though she foresaw that which would happen. ... All
the circumstances which can deepen our sorrow are com-
bined in this death of Madonna, for she was so young, so
beautiful, so brave, and such a rare and wonderful lady,
that the whole city of Naples is plunged in grief. I do
not speak of myself, although I have received from her
grace and favour, more suitable to the greatness of her
soul than to my poor worth, and shall hold her memory
in eternal honour. May God give her a high place in His
glory. ... It is very sad to see the Duke deprived of
her now, when she is dearer to him than ever. But what
shall I say of our Signora Donna Giulia, whom I have
seen so tenderly watching over the poor girl, during her
sad and painful journey hence, and who is now over-
whelmed with incomparable sorrow ? I could not look
upon her without tears . . . and when we think that to
this is added other losses of dear friends* . . . which has
so afflicted the Signora Donna Giulia that she has indeed
need that God should help her. Now she has gone into
retirement, and does not receive any visits, because, in
truth, she is very far from well. . . . May it please God
to preserve her to us for many years, as, indeed, we cannot
spare her. . . ."
On March 27 Luigi Tansillo writes again : " I hear
that your Signora [Giulia] is bearing her great loss with
all the fortitude of her strong and Christian spirit. . . .
It is four days since I saw her, and she seemed to me
better in health. Our dear Lady is wise with heavenly
* Cardinals Gonzaga and Seripando, and Maria Cardona, Marchess
dclla Padula, had all died this month.
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wisdom, and she well knows what are the fruits of this
world."
Ippolita Gonzaga was mourned for and lamented in so
many funereal odes and elegies that they were all collected
in a volume * and published the next year.
With gallant fortitude and Christian courage, Giulia
Gonzaga bore up against all these grievous losses of
friends and her own increasing ill-health. We find her
still taking the keenest interest in all that concerns her
friends and relations, constantly writing to her nephew
Vespasiano, and most anxious to have news of his health,
of his doings, and of his wife, Anna d' Aragona. She
sends loving messages to the little Isabellica, and is greatly
delighted to hear of the birth of a son and heir to him on
December 25, 1565. Cesare Gonzaga, the son of Don
Ferrante, is a constant correspondent, and Giulia is on
most friendly terms with his wife, the sister of Carlo
Borromeo. She even tries to arrange a suitable marriage
between two young people of the same reformed religious
views, the niece of Cardinal Morone with Andrea Gonzaga,
Cesare's brother.
Yet, during these last years of her life, she suffered
so much from ill-health that she received constant letters
of sympathy and comfort from her many friends and
admirers. And still the long death-roll of those who
had been her fellow-disciples of Valdes, continued to
increase. In 1560 she heard of the death at Padua of
Luigi Priuli, the great ally of Cardinal Pole; in 1563,
Bernardino Ochino passed away in Moravia, and in 1565
Pier Paolo Vergerio ended his days at Tubingen. All
these had found safety in flight from their country, but
* " Rime di diversi eccell. autori in morte delle Illustris Sig. D.
Hippolita Gonzaga." Napoli : Scotto. 1564.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
Giulia's last and most devoted religious friend, Pietro
Carnesecchi, still lived to comfort and encourage her with
his letters.
On December 10, 1565, Pius IV. died, and after a brief
conclave Michele Ghislieri was elected Pope, taking the
name of Pius V., on January 7, 1566. He was a complete
contrast to his predecessor — a stern ascetic, and violent
Inquisitor, who now found himself in a position to make
the Holy Office far more violent in its measures, he
himself spending most of his time inquiring into cases of
heresy of ten or twenty years 1 ' standing. Giulia Gonzaga
had long been strictly watched by him, and for her it was
a merciful escape from the most cruel persecution that she
passed away from this life on April 19, 1566.
Feeling death approaching, she devoted much care and
thought to the making of her will, that she might continue
as far as possible her good works and loving care for all
who had any claim upon her charity. This document
begins in the usual way : " In the name of God the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. I, Giulia Gonzaga
Colonna, wishing to dispose of my goods and property
after my death. ... In the first place, I offer and
recommend my soul to the Lord God Almighty, most
merciful Father, and to Jesus Christ His Son and my
Redeemer, that He may deign to receive me into eternal
life. ... I institute and make my nephew, the Illus mo
Vespasiano Gonzaga, my universal heir . . . with the
exception of all the following legacies and charges. . . ."
Then she carefully enumerates all the poor friends whom she
supports, with minute directions concerning the payments
to them and to her dependants and servants, not forgetting
several slaves to whom she gives freedom and also pro-
vides for their care. She desired to be buried in the
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Church of the Monastery of San Francesco delle Monache,
" where I have lived for so many years and at present
dwell." It is curious to note that Giulia especially asked
for the prayers of Signora Donna Anna d' Aragona, the
wife of her nephew Vespasiano. Well, indeed, was it
for the dying lady that the near future was hidden
from her.
Vespasiano was in Rome when he received the sad
news, and he wrote to the Duke of Mantua in these
words : "... It has pleased our Lord that the Signora
Donna Giulia Gonzaga, my aunt, has ended her days in
the most Christian manner — called away to the better
life, and leaving me stricken with the deepest grief. . . ."
Tasso has some charming lines :
" Giulia Gonzaga . . . che le luci sante
E i suoi pensier siccome strali al segno
Rivolti a Dio, in lui viva, in se morta
Di null' altro si ciba, e si consorta." *
Amongst the many elegies upon the death of this
greatly beloved lady, is one worthy of notice by the
Magnifico Sertorio Pepe, to whom she left in her will
dowries for his two daughters.
In a very different way was Giulia remembered by the
Crowned Inquisitor who sat on the throne of St. Peter.
It was the uncomfortable custom on the accession of a
new Pope for his personal goods to be pillaged by the
populace. Pope Pius V. was greatly disturbed by finding
that a certain chest containing a number of heretical
* " Giulia Gonzaga . . . who dwelt in the holy light, and whose
thoughts like arrows to the mark, turned to God ; in Him she lived,
in Him she died, by no other was she nourished, with no other did
she abide."
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A PRINCESS OF THE
papers had been taken. This, however, was soon found,
and contained material which enabled Pius V. to com-
mand the sequestration of all Giulia Gonzaga's papers
and letters in the Convent of San Francesco. Here
the Inquisition found that " Donna Giulia had kept up
an heretical correspondence with Pietro Carnesecchi
and many others. . . ." The Pope, on seeing these
writings, declared that " if he had seen these before
her death, he would have taken good care to burn her
alive."*
Pietro Carnesecchi had long been a man marked by the
Inquisition, and his touching prayer that " he might not
long survive his queen " was destined to be realized.
Trusting in the friendship and protection of Duke Cosimo,
he remained at Florence, but a few months after Giulia's
death he was arrested at the table of the Duke by order
of the Inquisition, and thrown into prison in Rome on
July 4, 1566. Then followed that famous trial which
lasted for months, and in which Carnesecchi is but the
figurehead, " while the real heroes are the illustrious
dead." They had been watched and suspected for years,
that noble company who, under the teaching of Vald£s,
had striven bravely for the reformation of the Church.
Some had already suffered, some had fled, and many had
died before this process ; but the pursuit of heresy ceased
not at the grave, and men and women who in life had
been most honoured and revered, were arraigned before
that dread merciless tribunal and condemned as heretics.
The names of Giulia Gonzaga and most of her friends in
Naples will be found in that roll-call of martyrs — in will
if not in deed. To do full justice to this theme would
require another volume. We can only touch upon the
* II Rabbi, in a letter of June 28, 1566. Appendix, note 11.
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tragic ending of that great trial, when seventeen living
heretics were condemned, of whom fifteen were sentenced
to imprisonment for life or to the galleys, and Pietro
Carnesecchi, in company with the Friar Giulio Maresio,
was beheaded, and then burned on the bridge of Sant'
Angelo.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
CHAPTER XIX
The will of Giulia Gonzaga leaves all her possessions to her beloved
nephew Vespasiano — Mysterious fate of his wife, Anna d'
Aragona — Vespasiano Vice-Duca of Casale Monferrato — In-
teresting literary society — He is summoned to Spain by Philip II.,
and devotes many years to works of fortification and defence of
the coast — Made Viceroy of Navarre — Death of his mother
Isabella ; he succeeds to the Colonna estates — Returns to Sab-
bioneta and devotes himself to its greatness and splendour —
Laden with honours and dignities, Vespasiano dies in 1591,
leaving as heir his surviving daughter Isabella, wife of the Prince
of Stigliano — With the death of the Master- Builder fades
away all the pomp and glory of his beloved city of Sabbioneta.
The history of Giulia Gonzaga and her family would be
incomplete without a brief account of the later life of
Vespasiano, the nephew whom she had adopted and loved
as her own son.
We left him at the beginning of the year 1565 on the
very pinnacle of his greatness and happiness, when his
city of Sabbioneta had risen from the ground, and a son
and heir had been born to him to carry on his pomp and
glory to posterity. But it is never safe to call any man
happy until death has set the seal upon his fate.
Fortunate as this Gonzaga prince was in all else, he
was certainly destined to meet with disaster in his
marriage arrangements. The Princess Anna d' Aragona,
a most interesting and charming personage to whom he
256
GIULIA GONZAGA (reputed).
With Attributes of St. Agatha.
Sebastiano del Piombo.
In the National Gallery.
ITALIAN REFORMATION
was devoted, had recovered her health after the birth of
her son, when, of a sudden, without any apparent reason,
during a temporary absence of her husband, she left
her home and her children and took up her solitary
abode at Rivarolo fuori, some miles away. Here she
dressed in mourning, was a prey to the most profound
melancholy, refused to see anyone — even her husband —
but dwelt alone with her secret trouble. After a year of
solitude and wretchedness, worn out and wasted away
with some consuming grief, she died on July n, 1567,
bearing her secret to the tomb.
Such, at least, is the common report; but it seems to
me that it is not difficult to suggest a reason for even such
strange conduct as that of the unfortunate lady. We may
naturally suppose that the mystery of her predecessor,
Diana di Cardona's terrible fate, had been kept from the
second wife of Vespasiano. Then, after her boy was born,
in her hour of weakness when she was more sensitive
and impressionable than usual, suppose that the sudden
revelation came upon her, by some chance words over-
heard, of the tragic event which had taken place in that
very palace of Sabbioneta. We can fancy the poor lady
overwhelmed with horror, and haunted by the thought of
those two days and nights of lingering agony, until the
pale spectre of the dead Diana became an ever-present
vision to the woman who had taken her place. If this
were so, could we wonder that Reason trembled on her
throne, and that poor Anna was driven away from her
home and all that she loved by an accusing ghost ?
Had Giulia lived, we can imagine the young wife
seeking comfort and strength from so brave and loving a
nature ; but, supposing this theory is correct, she was too
loyal and too proud to betray her husband's secret to her
257 17
A PRINCESS OF THE
Own family — she had no other near friend — and there was
nothing for her but to bury the tragic story in her heart,
until death came to her as a vicarious atonement.
On this occasion there was no doubt about the depth
and violence of Vespasiano's grief; he so far forgot his
own greatness and importance that he actually buried
himself in a cloister of monks and remained there, sharing
their ascetic life and devoting himself to religious observ-
ances, for a whole month. Then his kinsman Guglielmo,
Duke of Mantua, full of kindness and pity, went to see
the sorrowing widower, and persuaded him to return to
active life and to enter his service. The two friends
travelled together to Casale Monferrato on the River Po
(between Pavia and Turin), the capital of the Duchy of
Monferrato, which Guglielmo had inherited from his
mother, Margherita Paleologa. Here there seems to
have been a rebellion, and Vespasiano discovered a plot
to betray the city ; the rebels were punished, and the
Duke left his friend in possession as Vice-Duca.
We must presume that his buoyant nature had some-
what recovered from the unusual fit of depression, for the
young lord became very popular during his stay of more
than a year in this pleasant city, where there appears to
have been a lively literary society. A most interesting
account of the conversation at certain supper-parties in
Casale is given by one of the guests, Stefano Guazzo,
in a book which recalls parts of the " Cortegiano " of
Baldassare Castiglione. It was written by command of
Vespasiano, who said to Guazzo one night after a specially
interesting variety of discussions :
" You ought to preserve the memory of the converse
we have had; add to it with your skill the necessary
ornaments, and raise thus a temple to the Art of Conver-
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sation." Guazzo assures us that he blushed at the
thought of it, but he set to work and wrote a book which
has made his name famous.* Most interesting and
characteristic of the period as it is, we have only space
for a brief account of this work. It is divided into four
parts, of which the last is entirely taken up with the
account of a certain supper-party at Casale, and this the
most curious.
The lady of the house, Madonna Caterina, is surrounded
by seven friends when Vespasiano arrives with his cousin,
Ercole Visconti. All the company rise at his entrance,
and when he has begged them to be seated, there follows
a space of silence. Looking round, the princely guest
notices that they are a company of ten — one too many,
as nine is the number of the Muses — and he offers to
retire. Madonna Caterina implores him to remain :
"... No doubt nine is the number of the Muses, but in
such an assembly there should always be a tenth — namely
Apollo. . . ." The ice being thus broken, conversation
begins, and it is suggested that Vespasiano should be
" king" of the evening, being of the highest rank. " No,
indeed," he replies. " Consider that I have left my titles
at home, and am only a private individual. Let us cast
lots for the king and queen of this company."
There was a book upon the table — of course, it was a
" Petrarch " — and the Lord Vespasiano opens it at the
sonnet which begins : " Oime il bel viso, . . ." the beautiful
lines written by the poet on hearing of the death of Laura.
He is thereupon proclaimed king, and Madonna Giovanni
is declared queen by virtue of the seventh line : " Alma
real, dignissima d' impero."
* Stefano Guazzo, " Conversazione Civite de Casale." Translated
into English and French. See Appendix, note 12.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
It appears that at the moment of the arrival of the two
last guests, the subject discussed was " Solitude," and
each person had to point out the spot he, or she, would
rather choose in which to lead a solitary life, explaining
the reason of the selection. Each person makes an
ingenious answer, and the judges — Vespasiano and
another lord — have to decide which is best ; but as it
seems a long affair, they suggest that they had better have
supper first, leaving the solitary ones to their fasting and
prayers, for the good of their souls. " Not at all," these
last argue ; " this is our carnival before Lent begins ;
besides, fasts begin in the morning, not the evening."
After supper the conversation becomes more lively. A
subject suggested, was to name one thing which is caused
by two others. Vespasiano, turning to Madonna Caterina,
says : " I present you Confusion, which Hope and Fear
have brought forth in my heart."
Thereupon, she replies to him with flattering deference :
" I present you with a Crown which Letters and Arms
have combined to form."
Ercole Visconti has to pay a forfeit, and is condemned
by the queen to answer all the questions and solve all the
problems. He is asked : " What is swifter than the wind,
or the flight of a bird ?" And made answer : " The mind
of man, which can fly in a moment from earth to heaven."
" To whom can we most safely reveal a secret ?" He
replied : " To a liar, because if he says anything he is not
believed."
" What is envy most like ?" — " To the worm which eats
into the wood."
" What burns more fiercely than fire ?" — " Love," was
the reply.
" What thing resembles death most closely ?" —
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" Woman, because, like death, she follows those who flee
from her, while she refuses to listen to one who calls
her."
" What other thing is like a woman ?" — " A pair of scales,
because she also bends towards the side where she receives
most."
" Who are the most unfortunate subjects ?" — " Those
who have to serve several lords, for several bags are more
difficult to fill than one."
These are only a few of the many subjects discussed.
Thus, much is said as to why lovers prefer solitude,
whether the eyes or the tongue speak with most eloquence,
what is the power of tears, and why it is that women are
more ready to weep than men ; what is the secret of beauty,
and a variety of other topics on which various witty and
flattering remarks are made.
We might almost fancy ourselves amongst the " Pre-
cieuses " of Moliere, save for a somewhat broad love of
good stories. Here is one which gave great pleasure. A
certain Messer Currado having shot a crane, was surprised
to see it brought up to table with only one leg and thigh.
The cook, Chichibio, is sent for next morning, and his
master angrily demands an explanation. Chichibio
humbly asks him to look out of the window which com-
mands a view of the lake, and then points out that all the
cranes on the water's edge have only one leg. Thereupon
Messer Currado cries aloud, and the cranes fly away,
clearly showing both legs. " Oh, master," exclaimed the
cook, " if you had only cried out like that last night, the
crane would have put down the other leg and thigh !"
This reply amused Messer Currado so much that
Chichibio escaped a beating for having given the tit-bits to
his Brunetta.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
This book of Guazzo had a most extraordinary success,
and all over Italy, France, and England, attempts were
made to imitate the lively and fanciful conversation of the
" Suppers at Casale." We remember how, in later years,
Madelon wanted impromptus, and Cathos asked for
enigmas, until Moliere made the " Precieuses " ridiculous.
Life at Casale was only a brief interlude in the life of
Vespasiano, but the account of Guazzo gives a vivid
picture of the period. The prince had far more serious
work to think of at Sabbioneta, which, after his own
personal glory, was the one thing which he cared for in the
world. When he was called away to the Court of Spain,
he left his cousin, Ercole Visconti, to continue the great
work of improving and beautifying his new city. As for
his children, he provided the most careful nurses and
learned tutors for his son Luigi, and his little daughter
Isabella was sent to Naples to be brought up by her grand-
mother, the Princess of Sulmona. He then went to Genoa,
from whence he embarked for Barcelona on September 3
with all his equipage, and, continuing his journey to
Madrid, he was received with great honour by King Philip
and all the Court. In the early spring of the year 1570,
Vespasiano accompanied His Majesty to Cordova, and for
a time he appears to have had charge of the young arch-
dukes. But more important work awaited him, for there
came news of the Moorish rebellion at Granada, and it was
feared that the Turks would support them by an expedition
to ravage the coast. The Gonzaga prince was sent to
Carthagena as an expert in the art of fortification, to see
to the defences of the citadel and port, which he hoped to
make impregnable.
It was while he was on that distant coast that he heard
of the death of his mother, the Princess Isabella ; and now
262
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he came into the vast possessions of his grandfather,
Vespasiano Colonna. But even this did not entice him
away from the service of the Spanish King ; he contented
himself with sending Federico Zanichelli as his Factor-
General, to claim and take charge of all the property and
castles in the Campagna, and also of the Duchy of Trajetto,
the Countship of Fondi, with other cities and great estates
in Southern Italy. The following year, Vespasiano was
promoted by Philip to a post of great importance, being
appointed Viceroy of Navarre — a high token of trust and
esteem. He appears to have given great satisfaction, and
to have found plenty of congenial work in his new kingdom.
He began with the fortification of Pampluna, where he
built a citadel and added a hospital for sick soldiers.
Then passing on to the Province of Guipuscoa, he added a
new fort to the little city of Fonterabia in April, 1572, and
greatly strengthened the defences of San Sebastian, so
important from its situation and the commerce of its
port.
We next hear of his crossing the seas to Africa that
he might fortify Oran, and traces of his defensive work
may still be seen above the town of Santa Cruz, which
commands the bay of " Marzaelquibir." On his way back
he saw to the defences of Gibraltar and Cadiz, and then
returned to the Court at Seville, where he was received
with enthusiasm by the king. As soon as his son Luigi
was old enough, he sent for him to Spain that he might
be enrolled as first page to Don Ferdinand, the son of
Philip II.
Meantime, Vespasiano had never forgotten his precious
city of Sabbioneta, the most beloved of all his possessions,
governed during his absence by his cousin, Ercole Visconti,
who constantly wrote to consult him about fresh buildings
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A PRINCESS OF THE
and improvements. The Lord of Sabbioneta had long
desired to return to his home and his country; but the
king could not yet spare this master-builder of fortifica-
tions, and now sent him to inspect the realm of Valencia,
the coast of Alicante, then to Barcelona, to Peniscola,
everywhere building fresh forts, with moats and walls.
Always under the first stone of each building was placed
a precious medal with the effigy of Philip II. Mean-
time, fresh honours poured upon Vespasiano from all
sides, for his Governor, Visconti, had not been idle, as he
had obtained from the Emperor Maximilian II., a
diploma, by which Sabbioneta was raised to a Principality,
and Vespasiano could have his own Council of Justice,
which it was his privilege to enter in state, preceded by
two staff-bearers with silver maces.
On the occasion of each new reign he hastens to pay
homage, and obtains some fresh honour and dignity for
his beloved city. Thus, when Rodolph II. succeeds
Maximilian, Sabbioneta is created a Duchy, dependent, as
before, only upon the Roman Empire. The mild
successors of Charles V. " shelter him under their august
shadow, and grant him their protection and that of their
imperial eagle," as the diploma states. And this proud
captain meekly bows before them, satisfied with the fact
that he rules supreme over his city, to which all these
concessions are a practical advantage. Yet all this great-
ness had to be most carefully schemed in order to avoid
jealousy, for there were other dukes in his family, and
even the Ambassador from Mantua knew nothing of his
ducal honour until the imperial diploma was signed on
November 18, 1577. Vespasiano had now attained the
desire of his heart, and, loaded with honours, he returned
to Italy in July of the following year, pleading, with truth,
his failing health.
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He was escorted by a fleet of five galleys, belonging to
Prince Doria, and reached Genoa in eleven days, having
been detained for three days in a port of Provence to
avoid a tempest. He greatly desired to visit his daughter
Isabella, who appears to have remained at Naples, but as
he said, "he could not wrong his first-born, the City!"
and he returned at once to Sabbioneta.
The first care of the duke was to enhance his pomp
and glory by causing his new arms to be carved all over
his city; the imperial eagle {bicipite) in a field of gold,
and below in golden words on a field azure, the magic
words " Libertas," which henceforth he also used on his
seals and his money. Then he set to work on completing
his fortifications and furnishing them with cannons. We
have an interesting account of the way he acquired his
artillery, and particulars of all his cannons, which were
each specially named. Having thus assured peace at
home, he could devote himself entirely to beautifying his
city with all the Arts. This had already made good
progress under the care of Visconti, for he found the new
gallery to contain his many treasures painted in frieze on
stucco, in bright colours, representing Naples, Rome,
Florence, Genoa, Constantinople, Venice, Augusta, and
Antwerp. In front is Sabbioneta, and Mirandola on the
other side. The camino of the gallery is of the deepest
red Venetian marble, and very fine. He next opened in
state the second gate of his city, which he called
" Imperial," and on it was placed this inscription :
VESPASIANUS DI GONZAGA. DUX SABLONET^
POETAM HANC IMPERIALI
NOMINE DECORATAM
CONSTRUENDAM CURAVIT.
ANNO SALUTIS MDLXXIX.
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A PRINCESS OF THE
The other gate of the city was dedicated to " Victory,"
with another stately inscription. As we have already
seen, Sabbioneta had its Mint, where the duke coined his
money as a sovereign prince. It also had its library, to
which the Gonzaga lord made constant additions ; for all
his life he had a passion for books, and possibly was not
always scrupulous as to the means of obtaining them.
We are led to suppose that this was the case by a letter
from his friend, Galeazzo Florimont, Bishop of Sessa,
in which he writes: "I should be pleased to send you
certain books which I possess, and which would interest
you, but you soldier lords are so accustomed to pillage
that you might not trouble to return them to me."
So great was the duke's love of literature that he not
only had a rich collection of ancient works, but encouraged
living authors of repute. The famous Doctor of Law,
Jacopo Menechio, was so grateful that he presented his
patron with a portrait, while philosophers, orators,
mathematicians, and poets, all found in him the two
qualities of a Mecaenas — great earnestness in the en-
couragement of learning, and generosity in its remunera-
tion. Aldo Manuzio dedicated a work to Vespasiano, and
received a gold necklace, while rich presents were given
to Francesco Ziletta, Girolamo Bardi, Monaco Carnal -
dolese, Muzio Sforza, and many others. Good musicians
were encouraged at his Court, but above all he desired
the services of painters, sculptors, and wood-carvers, in
whose work he greatly delighted.
Thus, in the ducal palace we still find the suite of
fifteen or more reception-rooms, with the most splendid
carved ceilings of precious woods, such as cedar, olive,
etc., on which garlands of flowers, coats of arms, angels,
and amorini are carved in relief in the thickness of the
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wood. As Bernardino Baldi says: "In the time of
Solomon we know how much precious woods were used,
and we have seen this custom renewed, with exquisite
taste, by the Most Excellent Vespasiano, Duke of
Sabbioneta, who, in the magnificence of his fabrics and
the greatness of his soul, is as famous as any of the
ancients." But perhaps the most interesting of these
carvings in wood were the twelve life-sized equestrian
statues of his ancestors, beginning with Luigi, first
Captain of Mantua and Vicar of the Empire in 1328, and
ending with himself. They formed a most imposing
group, with their rich costumes and ancient armour,
painted in natural colours in the upper hall at the head of
the great marble staircase,* and they are believed to be
excellent portraits. Another proof of the duke's devotion
to his family is shown in a series of medallions, some in
marble and others in stucco, round one of the splendid
chambers, representing all the princes and princesses of his
family, which are perfectly well preserved to this day, and
have immense value for the historian, as we learn from
contemporary documents that they are authentic likenesses.
As for the artists, they flocked to Sabbioneta from
Cremona, Venice, Mantua, and elsewhere, and perhaps the
most famous of the sculptors was Leone Leoni, famous
alike for his genius and his jealousy, whose only friend
was Michelangelo. To him we owe the splendid bronze
statue of Vespasiano, who is represented seated, in a semi-
antique costume, with outstretched hand — his look and
gesture of such supreme authority that we seem to hear
him command his city to rise from the dust. This great
work of art formerly stood on the Piazza Maggiore, but is
* Only four remain at the present day, and the colours are faded
by time.
267
A PRINCESS OF THE
now placed on the tomb of the master-builder, in the
Church of Santa Maria Incoronata.
Bernardino Campi, a pupil of Giulio Romano, was a
great favourite with the duke, who employed him in much
picturesque fresco work, both outside the palace walls and
in the great reception-rooms of the Palazzo del Giandino,
or the " Casino," near the fortifications at the end of the
wide Via Giulia, so called after his beloved aunt. Inside
the palace, more especially in the Sala di Giove and the
Sala di Saturno, we can still trace the charming designs
on ceiling and walls. We see a vivid presentment of the
Olympian games, columns, altars, golden statues, Victory
on a column, Ariadne asleep, and many scenes from the
legends of Jupiter. On a ceiling we make out Phaeton on
his car, and on the walls Pallas and Arachne, Saturn
turning into a horse, and a bewitching nymph who looks
at us with a mocking smile. We pass on from sala to sala,
and the frescoes follow us with the story of Orpheus, and
the whole tragedy of the siege of Troy, until at length we
reach the splendid gallery which once contained all the
priceless treasures of antiques, the pillage of Greece and
Rome — busts, statues, bas-reliefs, and sarcophagi — for
which Vespasiano was always willing to pay profusely.
He once gave Marcello Donati four hundred golden scudi
for seven ancient statues of gods and emperors.
Bernardino Campi was only one of many artists
employed at Sabbioneta ; amongst the others we may
mention Camillo Ballino from Venice, a pupil of Titian,
who was " welcomed with a smiling face "; Giovanni
Alberti of Borgo San Sepulchro, " a bizarre man of
uncertain temper 1 '; his brother Cherubino ; and Jean de
Ville, a Flemish painter who was drowned in the Oglio,
and who had a marble tomb raised to his memory.
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To return to the personal affairs of Vespasiano. He had
returned from Spain in ill-health, and late in 1580 had a
serious illness. On his unlooked-for recovery, he had the
terrible grief of losing his only son Luigi, whom he had
brought back with him from Spain, and who was barely
fifteen years of age. In this deep sorrow for his heir, his
thoughts turned to religion : he rebuilt the great Church
of Sabbioneta, dedicated it to the " Assumption of the
Holy Virgin "; laid the first stone of a Church and Convent
of the Cappucini at Bozzolo ; gave a palace in his city to
the Carmelites of Mantua ; and finally began the beautiful
Church of Santa Maria Incoronata, "most rare and
wonderful," and destined later to be his mausoleum.
In the next year, the duke had recovered his spirits
sufficiently to build a fortified Castello at Bozzolo, where
he placed a paid garrison, and also made a park with a
circuit of two miles, in which he could keep various wild
animals for the chase, as the park of Sabbioneta had been
destroyed when he rebuilt the city. At the same time he
caused a strong tower to be raised at Comessagio, on
the river of the same name, and a bridge was constructed
for easier communication. Seeing him occupied at his
favourite work once more, his vassals appear to have
suggested that he should " take a new wife in the hope of
another heir." So it came to pass that on May 6, 1582,
he married the Signora Margherita Gonzaga, sister of
Ferrante II., Prince of Molfelto and Lord of Guastello.
She was born in Rome under the Pontificate of Pius IV.,
when her father, Don Cesare, was Governor of Benevento,
and we are told that " she was a maiden of no small beauty
and in fresh age."*
There were great festivities at Sabbioneta, but as time
* The bride was about twenty, and Vespasiano fifty-three.
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passed on and there were no children, Vespasiano decided
to make his daughter Isabella his heir, and therefore
married her to Luigi Caraffa, Prince of Stigliano, a " very
rich lord and a handsome youth." He came to Lombardy,
and the wedding took place at Bozzolo on November 29,
1584. Within two years, the son so ardently desired was
born, and the mighty Duchy of Sabbioneta had an heir,
who was welcomed with royal congratulations and many
odes. Honours still poured upon Vespasiano, who went
to Parma to receive the Order of the Golden Fleece, and
soon after was invited to Venice, where his name was
inscribed in the Golden Book, and the republic added
him to their nobility. He was also offered the command
of their armies, but this he courteously refused. His
fighting days, however, were not yet ended, for at this
time the Archduke Maximilian, brother of the Emperor
Rodolph, was chosen King of Poland, and went to fight
against Sigismond, who defeated and took him prisoner.
Vespasiano was asked to serve in the campaign against
Sigismond, and with eager chivalry he " placed himself
and his substance at the service of King Philip and the
Emperor." As a reward for his services he was made a
Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and received the title
of "Altezza."
There was only one thing wanting to the greatness of
Sabbioneta ; it had as yet no theatre, and the duke lost
no time in setting the final seal on its glory, for the
dramatic art was one of those "without which it was
impossible to live well." Vitruvius was still his text-
book, and although the famous Palladio, exponent of that
style of architecture, had died in 1580, his pupil Scamozzi
had just completed the Olympian Theatre at Vicenza
according to the master's plans. He was summoned to
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Sabbioneta, where he arrived on May 3, 1588, and was
received with great honour. He saw the site, and within
eight days he had drawn out the plans for "a theatre
capable of holding a great number of people, with one
chamber leading to the other . . . suitable for various
uses, with orchestra and steps for seats. . . . The
proscenio and the perspective to represent a great piazza
with a noble street in the middle, and other buildings
here and there of coloured wood, in imitation of
Nature. . . ."
These plans are yet to be seen in the museum of
Vicenza, and the Palladian Theatre still exists. The
seats of the half-circle are perfect, and also the ducal
box formed by a semicircular colonnade, behind which
the wall is covered with pictures in monochrome, repre-
senting classical heroes.
When Scamozzi departed on May 11, he received, in
the name of His Highness, who was absent, thirty
doubloons* of Spanish gold, besides all his expenses,
the " most generous expressions of esteem and gratitude,"
and an escort back to Venice. When Scamozzi came
again to Sabbioneta to superintend the completion of the
theatre, the duke was so pleased with the work that he
gave the architect a gold collar, besides his fee, and " held
him ever in esteem and under his protection." The
theatre had a great loggia with eleven columns, adorned
by niches on the cornices, like that of Vicenza. These
Corinthian columns with carving are above and below ;
there is one continuous pedestal, with statues of the
divinities of Rome corresponding to each of the columns.
We can still look upon the gods in their ancient costume,
and " the goddesses in their splendid nakedness."
* A Spanish doubloon was then worth £3 is. iod.
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The loggia was for the ladies, and the rows of seats
were for the cavaliers, and behind were two chambers.
Everything is adorned with frescoes painted by good
artists, and the three exterior facades are of such fine
architecture, that the whole forms a marvellous reminis-
cence of the pomp of Roman grandeur.
When this great work was completed, Vespasiano felt
that his city had reached the summit of perfection, and
that there was nothing more to live for. His health had
long been failing, and he rapidly grew weaker, until —
with every desire gratified, his greatness supreme, and
the succession assured to his grandson — he calmly pre-
pared for his latter end. On February 25, 1591, not yet
having completed his sixtieth year, he dictated his last will
and testament — a wonderful document of many pages —
in which he leaves a legacy by name to each one of those
who had loved and served him. No one is forgotten,
from the Court barber to his old friend, Monsignore
Schizzi of the Cathedral Church of Cremona, to whom,
besides 1,500 scudi, he leaves the choice of two sets of
tapestry hangings, one of which is to be "the tapestry
of the Story of Esther, with silk in the tissue, which I
brought back from Madrid."
Yet " himself " to the last, Vespasiano's dying thoughts
were filled with his own personal fame and glory. His
daughter Isabella was solemnly charged to erect a marble
sepulchre for his body in the Church of Santa Maria
Incoronata. She was commanded to spend upon it
1,500 scudi, "besides the value of the marble blocks,
which I myself have already had brought from Rome."
Upon this monument was to be placed the splendid
bronze statue of himself, cast by Leoni, and which " is
at present on the Piazza of Sabbioneta."
272
ITALIAN REFORMATION
The duke passed away on February 26, 1591, the day
after he had signed his will, and was entombed according
to his decree, in the beautiful Church of Santa Maria In-
coronata, upon which a further sum of 2,500 ducats was to
be expended to make it a worthy resting-place for the
dust of —
" The Most Illustrious Highness, Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna,
Duke of Sabbioneta and Trajetto, Marquis of Ostiano,
Count of Rodigo and Fondi, Viceroy of Navarre,
Grandee of Spain, Noble of Venice, and
Prince of the Holy Roman Empire."
With the death of Vespasiano, the pomp and glory of
Sabbioneta rapidly faded away ; like a dream-city it had
risen from the ground at his command, but without his
watchful care it had no real vitality. One by one all his
cherished institutions came to an end. The Halls of Justice,
the colleges, the printing works, were closed ; the priceless
collection of treasures was dispersed, the walls lost their
cannons, and the palaces were deserted, for the inhabitants
went back to their old pursuits.
From a splendid ducal city, Sabbioneta in the course of
time has became once more a straggling village in a marshy
plain, with only the picturesque ruins of its former
greatness. Peasant families encamp within the stately
palaces of Vespasiano ; the geranium - coloured walls
still enclose a forsaken city which no one attacks or
defends, while silence and desolation reign in the once
magnificent Via Giulia, and from the stately Imperial
Gate to the Gate of Victory, still proclaiming with blazon
and pomp of heraldry, the bygone splendour of its master-
builder.
273 18
A PRINCESS OF THE
CONCERNING THE PORTRAITS OF GIULIA
GONZAGA
These portraits have been a fertile subject of discussion
amongst Art critics, more especially as to which was the
famous picture painted by Sebastiano del Piombo, in the
summer of 1532, at Fondi, as a commission from the
Cardinal Ippolito dei Medici (see p. 106).
This honour has been attributed to various important
pictures by del Piombo, each of which has its supporters
amongst those who have studied the subject.
The whole subject is so involved, and so much has been
written about it, that I have thought it well to give in
this volume, photographs of the various pictures which
have been thought by well-known Art critics to be like-
nesses of Giulia Gonzaga. They are all extremely interest-
ing, and are undoubted works of Sebastiano del Piombo.
A picture from the Hof Museum, Vienna, is also
included — an undoubted likeness of Giulia Gonzaga by an
unknown painter. Here Giulia wears a black dress with
puffed sleeves, and a widow's veil of yellow silk. (In col-
lection of the Archduke Ferdinand of Tirol, and formerly
in the Schloss Ambras, near Innsbruck.)
We have positive authority, from Giulia's own letters,
that she was painted by Titian (see pp. 178, 179), but the
portrait has entirely disappeared.
274
ITALIAN REFORMATION
APPENDIX
The sixteenth century was a time when everyone, with any
pretention to culture, wrote poetry. To lovers of Italian
literature of the Renaissance, it may be interesting to read
selections of the poems written by important characters of my
story, for which there would be no space in the Memoir itself.
This appendix also gives an opportunity for explaining and
entering more fully into other subjects of interest.
Note i (p. 17). — Letter of Giulia Gonzaga :
" Casalmaggiore, 23 Ottobre, 1520.
" Al Marchese di Mantova,
" Ilmo e t Ex mo Sig r mio obl mo Intendendoio che V. E mo .
S. ha molto a piacere et si dilecta de cose di musica et max e
cose nove, desideroso farli cosa grata, gli mando qui alligato un
mottetto quale ha composto Mons r Sebastiano Testa servitore
del R mo Mons re de Mondovi mio cit. honorar mo , el quale
mottetto anchora non e in mano di persona. ..."
Second letter of Giulia Gonzaga :
"Casalmaggiore, 2 Gennaio, 1521.
" Al Duca di Mantova,
" Havendo avuto accepto 1' altro mottetto qual mandai
a V. 111. S. mi son sforzata fame metere un altro inseme per
far piacere ad quella. . . ."
[These two letters are preserved in the Gonzaga Archives at
Mantua.]
275
A PRINCESS OF THE
Note 2 (p. 84). — Sonetto VII. (Luigi to his Isabella) :
" Se quella vostra travagliata barca,
Che or or vi parve in si sicuro porto,
Fortuna irata la respinge a torto
In F alto mar troppo gravata, e carca ;
Non vi turbate Donna, se ancor varca
II poco che vi resta, perche scorto
Tengo il bel lido, ove sara di corto
Di ricca, e onesta merce lieve, e scarca.
Ragion e se imitaste i duri giorni
Di quella Greca,* a cui '1 gran seme increbbe
D' Achille, si del primo amor le calse,
Ch' or imitiate 1' altra,t a cui piu valse
Torre a la notte quel, che '1 giorno accrebbe,
Accio ch' ogni valor vi fregi, e adorni."
Note 3 (p. 101). — Bernardo Tasso, in praise of Giulia
Gonzaga :
" II biondo, crespo, inalletto crine
Che con suavi errori ondeggia intorno,
Mosso da 1' aure fresche e pellegrine,
Ne d' altro mai che di se stesso adorno,
Quant' anime del ciel son cittadine
Stringer poria con si bel nodo intorno,
Che sciorso non saprian dal ricco laccio
Perche tornin piu volte i fiori e '1 ghiaccio.
" Chi contempla la fronte alta e serena
Di cui le Grazie fan dolce governo,
Onde 1' aere turbata si serena
E fugge il freddo e nubiloso vento,
Si sente porre al collo una catena,
Che non so sciogliera. forse in eterno,
* Briseis. t Penelope. From " Poems of Luigi Rodomonte Gonzaga."
276
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Ove di man d' Amor scritto" si mira
Felice chi per me piange e sospira.
" S' apron due chiare e lucide fenestre
Sotto le nere sue tranquille ciglia,
Onde in questa prigion bassa e terrestre
Scorger si pud di Dio la meraviglia.
* -r -r ^r "K"
A quella bocca che perle e rubini
Avanza di vaghessa e di colore. . . .
" Purpurea grana sparsa in picciol colle
Di bianca neve pur caduta allora,
Sembra la guancia delicata e molle
Che foco di virtu pinge e colora ;
II merito ch' ad ogn' altro il pregio tolle
II collo e '1 petto, ove valor dimora,
U' castitate alberga e leggiadria.
L' odilo Amor, ch' ivi si nudre e cria.
"Ma 1' angeliche voci e le parole
Proprie di Dio e non d' uomo mortale. .
Oda parlar costei, ne cerchi poi
Trovar pari dolcezza unqua f ra noi. . . .
" Se gira i piedi in questa parte o in quella
Qualor grave e pensosa il passo muove,
Non tanta grazia di benigna Stella
Quanto da 1' orme lor deriva e piove :
De le sue piante per 1' erba novella
Esca e forme di fior leggiadre e nove,
Onde dice ciascun per maraviglia,
Quest' e di primavera o suora o figlia.
" Chiunque costei mira intento e fiso
Diventa pregno de 1' eterna luce
Tanto nel dolce suo serano viso
La bella donna ogn' or seco n' adduce ;
277
A PRINCESS OF THE
Ne di veder aperto il paradiso
Con quel chiaro splendor, ch' ivi riluce
S' allegran si gli spriti beati,
Come ne gli occhi suoi di foco armati. . . .
"... poscia ch' avra mill' anni e mille
Sepolti il tempo, de la costei gloria,
Ardin nel mondo ancor 1' alte faville
Nel dot to sen d' ogni purgata istoria ;
E si come di Cesare e Achille
Si serba ognor fra noi cara memoria
Viva di Julia il glorioso nome
Mentre speiglera il Sol 1' aurate chiome."*
Note 4 (p. 105). — Letter of Cardinal Ippolito to Giulia
Gonzaga, with the translation of the Second Book of the
"^niad":
"Illustrissima Signora, — Poiche spesso ad unoppressoad
gran male 1' esempio d' un maggiore alleggerisce il martire,
non trovando io alia pena mia altro rimedio, volsi 1' animo a
1' incendio di Troia e misurando con quello il mio, conobbi
senza dubbio nissun male entro a quelle mure essere avvenuto
che nel mezzo del mio petto un simile non si senta, lo quale
cercando in parte affogare, di quel di Troia dolendomi, ho
scoperto il mio ; onde lo mando a voi, acciocche egli per vera
simiglianza vi mostri gli affanni miei, poi che ne i sospiri, ne
le lagrime, ne il dolor mio ve 1' han potuto mostrare giammai."f
Note 5 (p. 112). — Barbarossa:
This Kheyr-ed-dln is the Barbarossa of modern writers ; but
his beard was auburn, while that of his elder brother, Uriij,
was the true Red-beard, and he was the real Barbarossa.
* " Stanze di diversi illustri poeti ecc." raccolte da M. Ludovico Dolci.
Venezia : G. Giolito De' Ferrari, 1558, p. 232.
•f II Secondo libro e tradotto da Ippolito de' Medici. In Vinegia per
Nicolo d' Aristotile detto Zopino con 1' anno di N.S. MDXXXX.
278
ITALIAN REFORMATION
(Neither of the brothers was ever called Barbarossa by the
Turks or Moors.) Both were famous Corsair leaders — the
terror of the Mediterranean coast. UrQj died in 1517, while
his younger brother, Kheyr-ed-dln — from whom Giulia Gon-
zaga had so narrow an escape — lived till 1546, triumphant and
successful to the last. " The chief of the sea is dead " was his
requiem ; and long afterwards, no Turkish fleet left the Golden
Horn without her crew repeating a prayer and firing a salute
over the tomb at Beshiktish, where lie the bones of Kheyr-ed-
din, Barbarossa.
Note 6 (p. 113). — Muzio Giustinopolitano dedicated his
Eclogue, entitled " La Ninfa Fugitiva," to Monsignor Hyppo-
lito, Card, de' Medici, concerning the flight of the Signora
Giulia Gonzaga on the coming of Barbarossa :
" In questi umili accenti
Viene ardita a cantar nostra zampogna
II periglio, la fuga e lo spavento
D' un altra ninfa, i cui dolci vestigi
S' avesse seguitato un altro Apfeo
Fra noi s' avrebbe una nova Arethusa.
Fuggia da here man di fenti ladre
Che venute di la dal gelid 'Istro
Solcando V alto mar, trahendo prede
E svenando pastor, gregge et armenti,
Vaghi di riportane eterni pregi
A barbarichi lidi, al bel Petruolo
Corsi eran per spogliar le nostre rive
Del primo onor : fuggia la bella Ninfa
Che splende di belta fra 1' altre belle,
Qual fra i lumi minor la bianca Luna.
"... Addolorata e sola
Fuggia, sparse le chiome a 1' aura, e ignudo
II santissimo petto e scinta e scalza
Le molli piante per 1' oscura notte
279
A PRINCESS OF THE
Per duri sterpi e per deserti monti
Sospinto da timor, da gelosia
Di vita no, di liberta. e d' onore.
Et ne fan fede i rivi, ibalzi e itronchi
Che con voce di duol languide e fioche
Torno piu volte a dir, fra queste rupi
E' sia meglio il morir, che stando in vita
Sbramar la rabbia d' affamati cani.
O qual era a sentir il pianto amaro
Qual il dolor, de gli angosciosi huai !
Per te dunque, dicea, forma infelice,
Caduco nor, per te 1' eterno frutto
Di mia onesta vedro caduto e sparso
Fracido in terra a le piu sporche belve ?
Tu col tuo van piacer prima cagione
Se 'de 'miei mali : tu il nimico stuolo
Mi tiri appresso : tu nel gran periglio
Di servitu m' hai posta e di vergogna !
*****
" O quante volte al tremolar de 1' ora
Fra le tenere frondi o al suon d' un ste
Mosso da lei col teneretto piede
Tutto di freddo orror si ricoverse,
Parendole sentir per le sue orme
II romor de' seguenti : e piu dappresso
Farlesi d' or in or ; e gia alle spalle
Aver la turba e rimaner cattiva.
" Ninfa ove fuggi ? e perche '1 dolce viso
Guasti col pianto ? Vuolsi aver piu cara
Tanta belta, per lo cui chiaro grido
Vengono amiche a te 1' armate squadre,
Che tu fuggi nemica. II santo amore
A te 1' ha porte con 1' aurate penne,
280
ITALIAN REFORMATION
Amor, perche ti faccia il gran Tiranno
Tra le reine sue prima Reina." *
Note 7 (p. 115). — This cruel fable was published by a certain
Filocolo Alicarnasseo, apparently a bigoted friar, who could
not invent and circulate in his book enough scandals against
Giulia Gonzaga — a heretic " condemned by the Inquisition."
Ireneo Affo (1 741-1747), the learned historian and biographer,
says of Filocolo : " Questo frate mente per la gola !"
Note 8 (p. 140). — The father of Juan Valdes was Fernando,
Regidor of Cuenca, in Castile ; and he had a twin-brother,
Alfonso, who long held an important post at the Court of
Charles V. Alfonso was a great admirer of Erasmus ; but he
is chiefly known as writer of the "Dialogo de Lactancio," to
vindicate the Emperor after the sack of Rome, 1527. He
died in 1532, and it is interesting to find Thomas Cranmer
writing in his praise to Henry VIII., October 20, 1532 : " . . .
There has died of the plague Waldesius, a Spaniard, the
Emperor's Chief Secretary, who enjoyed his singular favour,
. . . when he would have anything well done in the Latin
tongue, it was ever put to Waldesius."
His more famous brother Juan devoted himself to literature,
and later became intensely interested in the reforming move-
ment. His dialogue on " Mercury and Charon " compromised
him with the Inquisition ; he therefore left Spain in 1530, and
settled at Naples, where he died in 1541.
His religious influence was very great in Italy ; and he also
had a circle of enthusiastic " Valdesian scholars " in Spain,
Germany, France, and, above all, in England. His books
were soon translated into all these languages. His chief
works are :
" Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron."
" Dialogo de la Lengua." A beautiful study of the Spanish
language.
* " Muzio Giustinopolitano." Egloghe, Venezia, 1550, libro v., p. 125.
281
A PRINCESS OF THE
" Alfabeto Cristiano." Religious dialogue between Vald6s
and Giulia.
" CX Considerationes." Celio Secondo Curione prefaces
the first edition with a letter, in which he says : " No writer
has soared to such a height, nor demonstrated so powerfully,
nor reasoned so sweetly, nor with such majesty, nor with such
authority, nor with such grace, as our Valdes."
Valdes also made translations from the Hebrew and Greek
into Spanish, and wrote Commentaries on the Psalms, most of
St. Paul's Epistles, those of St. Peter ; lastly, the Gospel of
St. Matthew, and possibly the other Gospels likewise. Most
of these were dedicated to Giulia Gonzaga by a preface nearly
five thousand words in length. In the Commentaries, each
verse or group of verses is taken and dwelt upon in earnest,
thoughtful words.
He also composed treatises on Christian Repentance, Faith,
and Life. He wrote a Catechism for children, of which the
Spanish is lost ; but the Italian translation was again translated
by Pietro Paolo Vergerio into Latin, and later turned into
German and Polish.
The teaching of Vald6s may be clearly traced in the " Bene-
ficio di Cristo crucifisso," which had an immense circulation
in Italy, but was supposed to have been extirpated by the
Inquisition, . . . until a copy was found at Cambridge in
1855. The authorship of the little book has been hotly
contested.
Note 9 (p. 141). — ■" Dialogo de Mercurio y Caron" (Dialogue
of Mercury and Charon). By Juan de Valdes.
In the form of dialogue, Valdes deals with the corruption of
the age. He tells how Mercury has travelled through the
world in order to discover a people living according to the laws
of Nature and Reason, but he has found only vanity. . . .
Charon, the boatman of the Styx, is described as holding con-
verse with his passengers to the other world, and each soul is
282
ITALIAN REFORMATION
unconsciously compelled to tell the whole truth concerning his
past life.
Thus we have a famous preacher, vain of his great reputa-
tion, who calmly owned that he never reproved those who
were present at his sermons, and that his own glory and wealth
were his only aims in life. Then a Duke passes. He confesses
that he only lived to enjoy himself and grasp all the money he
could squeeze from his vassals ; ... but he had built churches
to make sure of heaven, and had bought Papa' Bulls as his
passport there. Charon argues with him, and points out that
all this is useless. . . . Next follow, first a Bishop and then
a Cardinal, who have each used their sacred office for their
own selfish purposes, and are much dismayed to learn the
vanity of their careless assurance.
Then a soul appears who had been looked upon as a saint
on earth, who had led an ascetic life, had been revered for
his poverty and self-denial, and believed himself to be in a
state of perfection. Charon abruptly asks him if he has charity,
as all else is of no avail without it, and the ascetic stands
self-condemned.
A theologian follows, who boasts that he could make people
believe whatever he pleased . . . while he himself neglected
the Scriptures and knew not God. After a long argument he,
too, sees his terrible mistake. Another soul is now seen cross-
ing the mountains, who proves to be a single-hearted servant
of God ; he modestly made answer that he prayed continually,
and trusted in Christ that his sins were forgiven.
Next we have a saintly Bishop and, that r;ire and strange
sight, a good King, in the company of a pious Franciscan friar,
who had welcomed poverty gladly — had indeed a lowly spirit,
and was full of heavenly charity. Then follows the soul of a
woman floating joyfully along. When questioned, she made
reply that she had studied the Holy Scriptures, and her only
desire had been to make her life conform to their teaching.
She had a bad husband, but won him over to the love of virtue
283
A PRINCESS OF THE
by her example and her devotion. She had scarcely departed
when the soul of another woman, a nun, came quickly by.
Mercury wished to hear her story, but Charon exclaimed :
" Let her alone. Do you not see that it is a woman and a
nun ? If once she begins to talk she will never leave off !"
This is but a slight sketch of a very interesting work, which
also brings in the political affairs of Europe at that time.
Note 10 (p. 173). — This is the sepulchral inscription to the
memory of Madonna Antonia dal Balzo in the Church of San
Pietro, in Gazzuolo :
" Antonias Bauciae, quam Familiam ab uno ex tribus Magis
originem ducere, vetus, & constans fama est, Uxoris Jo :
Francisci Marchionis de Gonzaga, Fceminse lectissimse, &
numero, ac virtute Filiorum, Nepotum, Pronepotum, quos
vidit, haud paulo feliciori, & quod Isabella ejus Soror Friderici
ultimi Neapolitanorum Regis fuerit uxor, Scipio, & Pyrrhus
Fratres Marchiones de Gonzaga Abnepotes Abaviae de Familia
sua optime meritae P. Vixit ann. XCVII. obiit Anno salutis
MDXXXVIII."
Note 11 (p. 254). — Letter of II Rabbi, June 28, 1566. In
this he mentions how all Giulia's letters were seized by the
Inquisition. . . .
" Questo papa (Pius V.) per 1' occasione di queste scritture
ha detto eke se le havesse viste prima ehe lei fusse morta, che
l' avrebbe abrusciata viva !"
A letter of the Ambassador of the Duke of Florence, of
September 7, 1567, repeats the same words of the Pope, that,
had he known how serious was her heresy, " he would have
burnt her alive."
Note 12 (p. 259). — This book, "Conversazione Civile," of
Stefano Guazza, had a most extraordinary success. It was
first published in Venice, 1575, and soon became famous
throughout all Europe. It was translated into French, and
284
ITALIAN REFORMATION
published at Lyon in 1579; and the English translation was
dated 1586. It was also translated into Latin. These elaborate
and artistic conversations enjoyed an immense popularity ; and
the " Supper at Casale " was imitated in many a famous salon,
of which, perhaps, the most successful was that of the Mar-
quise de Rambouillet in her hotel of the street St. Thomas du
Louvre ; and the tradition was carried on until Moliere gave it
a final blow in " Les Precieuses Ridicules."
285
INDEX
Abana Baths, near Padua, 44
Abruzzi, 126, 135, 138
Africa, 119, 133, 263
Agnani, 215
Algiers, 119
Alicante, 264
Altamura, Prince of, 2
Alva, Duke of, 214, 215, 229
Ammirato, 107
Ancona, 92-94
Andrea, Giovanni, 128, 132
Aniello, Tommaso, 189
Antonia del Balzo (grandmother
of Giulia Gonzaga), I, 2, 9, 11,
16, 34, 56, 62, 83, 88, 123, 130,
J 7 2 > r 73 (her death), 184
Appiani, Bianca (first wife of
Vespasiano Colonna), 57
Aquila, 137
Aragona, d', Anna (second wife of
Vespasiano Gonzaga Col-
onna), 234, 235, 251, 253,
256, 257
Giovanna, 135
Maria, 135
Ariosto, Ludovico, 3, 6, 46, 47, 48,
49> 50. 9 2
Asola, 3, 6
Assago, Romano, 248
Atanagi, Dionigi, 178
Augsburg, 199, 213, 246
Austria, Eleanor of (wife of Gug-
lielmo, Duke of Mantua), 214,
236, 248
Avalos, Costanza, 199
Baldi, Bernardino, 233, 266
Ballino, Camillo, 268
Balzo. See Antonio del
Bandello, Matteo, 3, 4, 5, 6, 89, 90,
100, 184
Barba, Bernardino della, 94
Barbara of Brandenburg, 1
Barbarossa. See Kheyr-ed-din
Barbary, 107, 112, 122
Barcelona, 181, 262, 264
Basle, 144
Bembo, Pietro, 36, 40, 50, 167
Benedetto of Mantua, 156
Bentivoglio, Emilia, 11, 83, 184
Lucrezia (half-sister of Isa-
bella d' Este), 89
Berni, Francesco, 100
Betussi, G., 101
Bibbiena, Bernardo Doviso,
Boccaccio, 101
Boccalini, Francesco, 71, 75, 79
Boiardo, Matteo, 46, 47, 48
Bologna, 84, 85, 106, 109, 161, 199
Bona, 120
Bonfadio, Giacomo, 149, 150
Borgia, Lucrezia, 22
Borromeo, Carlo, Archbishop of
Milan, 194, 245
Bourbon, Charles Duke of, 27,
28, 72, 73, no
Bozzolo, 1, 4, 5, 269, 270
Brisegna, Isabella, 136, 148, 168,
201, 202, 206, 207, 214, 241
Brognina (lady-in-waiting to
Isabella d' Este), 18, 38, 39, 58,
60, 61
Brussels, 183, 202
Bruto, Giammichele, 179
Buonavoglio, Giovanni, 6, 8, 16,
23
Cademosta, Tomasso, surgeon,
81
Cadiz, 263
Calabria, 99, 113, 238
Calais, 228
286
INDEX
Calvin, 163, 213
Cambray, 205
Camerino, 160
Duchess of. See Caterina
Cibo
Campi, Bernardino, 209, 230, 268
Campomidele, 115
Capilupi, Camillo, 178, 179
Ippolito, 179
Capua, Isabella of, 87
Caracciolo, Carlo, 213
Colantonio, Marchese de
Vico, 211, 213
Gian Galeazzo, 149, an, 212,
213
Caraffa, Antonio, Duke of Mon-
dragone, 209, 210, 249, 250
Luigi, Prince of Stigliano
(husband of Isabella Gou-
zaga Colonna), 270
Duke of Nocera
See Paul IV.
Caramanico, 138
Cardona, Antonio, 197,
Diana di (first wife of Ves-
pasiano Gonzaga Colonna),
134, 197, 198, 199, 200, 204,
205, 206, 207, 214, 2l6-22I,J257
Maria, 136, 250
Violante di, Duchess of Pag-
liano, 220
Carnesecchi, Pietro, 149, 159, 160,
214, 239, 240, 241, 243, 244, 245,
254, 256 (martyrdom of)
Caro, Annibale, 173
Carthagena, 262
Casale, 104. 258, 259, 262
Casalmaggiore, 3, 4, 16, 180, 232
Casano, Benedetto, 153
Caserto, Gian Francesco di, 149,
160, 2ii, 213
Castiglione, Baldassare, 51, 89,
90, 153, 160, 162, 177, 258
Castriotti, Alfonso, Marchese Tri-
palda, 3
Cateau Cambre'sis, Treaty of, 228
Catherine of Austria, 196
Cavalli, Andrea, 231
Cervia, 22
Cervini, Cardinal, 172
Cetrara di Monaci, 113
Charles V., Emperor, 12, 14, 68,
70, 82, 83, 84, 85, 108, 109, 119,
120, 121, I33-I39. J 53, 175. 179
184, 188, 189, 190, 192, 196-199,
204, 205, 207, 210, 213, 219, 226
Chiaja, 144, 148, 149, 150, 153, 183,
210
Chiavenna, 20
Chiericati, Francesco, Bishop, 35,
40, 41, 42
Cibo, Caterina, Duchess of Cam-
erino, 107, 148, 163
Civita-Castellana, 87
Clement VII., Pope, 18, 27,43, 68,
75, 82, 85-94, 102, 104, 108, 109,
no, 117, 127, 159, 164
Colocci, Angelo, 91
Colonna, Ascanio, 77, 135, 167,
174
Fabnzio, 183, 191, 193, 194,
208
Giulia, (infant daughter of
Vespasiano Gonzaga), 234,
235
Isabella (wife of Luigi Rodo-
monte Gonzaga, later Prin-
cess of Sulmona), 57, 63, 64,
84-96, 102, 104, 122-126, 135,
137, 138. i73> 174. 2x1, 216,
229, 262 (death of)
Isabella (daughter of Ves-
pasiano Gonzaga), 234, 235,
251, 262, 265, 270, 272
Liugi (son of Vespasiano Gon-
zaga), 235, 251, 262, 269
(death of)
Marcantonio, 114
Pompeo, Cardinal, 31, 52, 69,
74
Prospero, 68, 98, 99, 1 14
Sciarra, 77
Vespasiano, Duke (husband
of GiuliaGonzaga), 52, 57-61,
64, 69, 74, 76 (death of), 99,
104, 123 (will of), 125, 263
Vespasiano, Gonzaga (son of
I/uigi, nephew of Giulia), 92,
95. 124, 173, 176, 179, 184,
193-207, 214-236, 248, 249,
251, 252, 253, 256-273
Vittoria, Marchesa di Pes-
cara, 35, 52-56, 63, 99, 135,
140, 148, 150, 155, 157, 158,
160, 162, 163, 166, 170, 171,
186
287
INDEX
Comessagio, 269
Contarini, Gaspero, Cardinal, 148,
160, 161, 167, 170
Cordova, 262
Cornaro, Caterina, Queen of
Cyprus, 26
Costanza, Angelo di, 216
Cremona, 232, 267
Crescensi, Persio, Secretary of
Isabella Colonna, 138
Dante, 23, 24
Doria, Andrea, Doge of Venice,
119, 180
Dover, 14
Dovizzi, Cardinal, 159
Dragut the Corsair, 199
Elizabeth, Queen of England, 228
Emanuel Philibert, Duke of
Savoy, 205
Erasmus, 161
Este, Alfonso d', Duke of Ferrara,
35
Isabella, Marchesa of Mantua,
3, n, 17, 21-32, 36-51,54-58,
59, 185, 196
Falco, 100, 101
Farfa, Abate di. See Orsini.
Napoleone.
Farnese, Allessandro, 236
Ottavio, Pier L/uigi, 183, 203,
204
Vittoria, 183
Ferdinand, Emperor, 109, 236
(death of)
King of Spain, 99, 234
son of Philip II., 262, 263
Ferrar, Nicholas, 145
Ferrara, 21, 22, 47, 92, 163, 170
Ercole, Duke of, 163
Fiandino, Ambrogio, 84
Fieschi, Francesca (mother of
Giulia Gonzaga), 2, 82
Flaminio, Giannantonio, 159, 160
Marcantonio, 100, 149, 156,
159, 160, 166
Flanders, 207
Florence, 87, 104, 137, 149, 164,
166, 170
Florimonte, Galeazzo, Bishop of
Sessa, 216, 266
288
Foligno, 25
Fondi, city of, 91, 97-100, 105, 106,
113, 114, 117, 118, 122, 123, 127,
128, 129, 186, 207, 263
Fontanellato, 81
Fonterabia, 263
Francois I., King of France, 107,
109J no, in, 112, 188 (death of)
Fregoso, Federico, Cardinal, 161
Frundsberg, 72
Gadaldino, Antonio, 57
Gaeta, 127
Galeotto, Mario, 149
Gallipoli, 94
Gambara, Veronica, 136
Garfagnana, 48
Gazzuolo, 2, 6, 9, n, 14, 83, 87,
123, 138, 184, 232
Genazzano, 65
Geneva, 213
Genoa, 84, 1 18, 119, 193, 203, 262, 265
Germany, 108, 137, 186, 198, 199
Giberti (Papal "Datario"), 160
Gibraltar, 263
Giovio, Paolo, 35, 36, 74, 87, 100,
102, 108, 130, 134
Giustinopolitano, Muzio, 115, 194
Goletta (Tunis), 119, 120
Gonzaga, Agostino, 139
Alessandro, 73
Cagnino. See Gianfrancesco
Camilla, 18, 22, 37
Carlo, 83, 92, 184
Caterina (sister of Giulia), 3,
19
Cesare (son of Ferrante), 194,
195, 198, 251
Curzio, 12
Elisabetta (sister of Giulia).
2, 19
Ercole, Cardinal, 30, 73, 99,
100, 182, 245, 249 (death of)
Federico II., Duke of Mantua,
17, 62, 86 (made Duke), 124,
196
Ferrante (son of Isabella
d' Este), 73, 85, 87, 124
(made Viceroy of Sicily),
125, 133. l 3 6 > 173, r 74. 175.
180, 182, 183, 190, 193, 194,
197, 200, 203, 208, 210, 211,
214 (death of), 249
INDEX
Gonzaga, Francesco I., Marchese
of Mantua, 9
Francesco II., Duke of Man-
tua, 196
Gianfrancesco (brother of
Giulia, called " Cagnino"),
2, 85, 184, 197
Guglielmo, Duke of Mantua,
196, 214, 248, 258
Ippolita (sister of Giulia), 2,
19
Ippolita, Duchess of Mondra-
gone, 182, 183, 190, 193, 194,
208, 209, 2:0, 213, 217, 249
(death of), 250
Isabella, 83
Leonora (sister of Giulia), 2,
19
Lucrezia, 83, 89, 90, 209
Lodovico III. (grandfather of
Giulia), 1
Lodovico, Abate (father of
Giulia), I, 9, 28, 59, 71, 82,
90, 95, 124, 172, 173, 174,
175. 184 3 A „
Luigi, called "Rodomonte"
(brother of Giulia), 2, 6, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25-35, 37,
46-50, 59. 63. 64, 70-79. 81-96
(death of), 122, 123, 124,
174. 175. 181, 184, 215,
235
Margherita (third wife of Ves-
pasiano Gonzaga Colonna),
269
Paola (sister of Giulia), 2, 19,
81
Pirro (brother of Giulia), Car-
dinal, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 74, 79.
82 (death of), 184
Pirro (uncle of Giulia), 62, 79,
83 (death of)
Sigismondo, Cardinal, 30, 50,
Vespasiano (son of Luigi).
See Colonna
Granada, 262
Grisone, Antonio, 1S9
Guarda, La, 239
Guastello, 194
Guazzo, Marco, 96
Stefano, 259, 262
Guipuscoa, 263
Hamburg, 155
Henri II. of France, 109, 205
Henry VIII., King of England,
13, 188 (death of)
Herbert, George, 145
Hippocrates, 107
Horace, 97, 98
Hungary, 106, 109, 112
Inghirami, Tommaso, Cardinal,
35,36
Innsbruck, 205
Isabel of Spain, 14
Ischia (Island), 53, 75, 190
Itri, city of, 117, 127, 128, 129, 130
Jerusalem, 198
Julius III., Pope, 202, 203, 204
Katherine of Aragon, 14
Kheyr - ed - din, Corsair leader,
called " Barbarossa," 112, 113,
117, 118, 119, 120, 126, 134
Lannoy, Charles de, Viceroy of
Naples, 137
Philippe de, Prince of Sul-
mona, 137, 172, 183, 205
Lecco, 104
Leo X., Pope, 10, 18, 43, 103, 161
Leoni, Leone, 267, 272
Lintz, 109
Loffreda, Isabella (a nun), 169
Lombardy, 21, 184, 185, 186, 196
London, 14
Loreto, 25
Lucca, 152, 153, 238
Luna, Beatrice di (mother of
Diana Cardona), 197, 200, 214,
(death of), 219
Luther, 35, 155
Magliana, La, 57
Magno, Marcantonio, 100, 154,
155, 174
Majocci, Bartolommeo, 230
Malatesta, 23, 24
I Malta, 120, 235
Manrique, Garcia di, 148, 161
Mantua, 2, 3, 9, 20, 71, 109, 182,
196, 203, 214, 232, 236, 248, 267
I Maresio, Giulio (Friar), 255
1 Maria of Portugal, 236
289 19
INDEX
Marino, 64
Marseilles, 109, no
Martinengo Girolamo, 19
P i.';„ Marcantonio, 70
Mary, Queen of England (death
of), 228, 241
Masserotti, Pietro Antonio, 195
Matilda, Countess of Tuscany,
158
Maximilian II., Emperor, 236, 264
Medici, dei, Alessandro, 84, 103,
127, 128, 132
Caterina, 109, no
Clarice, 69
Cosimo, Duke of Flor-
ence, 43, 44, 69, 254
Giovanni (delle Bande
Nere), 43, 44, 71
Giuliano, 103
Ippolito, Cardinal, 74, 77,
78, 81, 82, 84, IOO-IIO,
126-132 (his death), 139
Menechio, Jacopo, 266
Messina, 113
Michelangelo, 155, 269
Mignoz, Sigismondo, 149
Milan, 3, io, 53, 182, 188, 193
Minadois, D. Germano, 149
Minturno, II, 216
Miranda, Francesco, 121
Modena, 161
Mohacs, Battle of (in Hungary),
112
Molza, Francesco Maria (the
poet), 37, 74, 91, 100, 106, 126,
128, 129, 160
Moncada, Ugo di, 68, 69
Monferrato, Duchy of, 258
Morata, Fulvia Olympia, 164
Moravia, 251
Morone, Giovanni, Cardinal, 148,
161, 167, 239, 245
Muley Hassan, King of Tunis,
118, 120, 121
Namur, 207, 214
Naples, 76, 78, 99, 113, 118, 119,
125, 134, 136, 137, 150, 166, 176,
186, 188, 1S9, 191, 201, 203, 209,
214, 216, 229, 238, 246, 254, 262,
265
Narmi, 25
Navarre, 263
Negra, Iivia (letter to), 241, 242,
243
Nizolio, Maro, Professor, 233
Novellara, 36
Novilana, 6
Ochino, Bernardino, 139, 140, 150,
151, 152, 160, 163, 169, 170, 208,
251 (death of)
Oglio, River, 2,
Oran, 263
Orange, Prince of, 85
Orsini, Francesco, 215
Napoleone, 77
Orvieto, 74
Ostia, 161, 215
Ottavio della Genga, Conte, 127
Pagliano, Castle of, 65, 66, 67, 71,
72, 77, 78, 79. 8l > 9°
Paleario, Aonio, 156
Paleologa, Margherita, 185, 197,
203, 214, 258
Palladio, 270
Palombara, 215
Pampluna, 263
Parma, 81, 183, 194, 203, 204, 208,
215, 236, 270
Passerini, Cardinal, 103
Passignano, Monte, 97
Paterno, II (poet), 116
Paul III. (Alessandro Farnese),
119, 129, 132, 139, 160, 161, 173,
183, 188, 199, 202
Paul IV., 149, 160, 211, 213, 215,
216, 228, 238, 239, 243, 245,
(death of)
Pavia, 25, 44, 85, 258
Pellegrino, Giacomo, Bishop of
Fondi, 114
Pelleta, Margherita, 101
Peniscola, 264
Pepe, Sertorio, 253
Pesaro, 241
Pescara, Marchese di, 35, 53, 99
Peter Martyr. See Vermigli
Petrarch, 259
Petrucci, Fabio, 79
Philip II.. King of Spain, 180, 184,
185, 193. 195. 198. 199, 2 °3. 215,
216, 228, 232, 234 (accession to
throne), 264
290
INDEX
Piacenza, 84, 161, 214, 241
Picardy, 205
Piccolimini, Alfonso, Duke of
Amalfi, 160
Pico, Galeotto, Conte de la Miran-
dola, 19
I,ucrezia, 169
Pietrantonio di Capua, 149, 153
Piombo, Sebastiano del, 105, 106
Pisa, 118
Pius XV., 228, 229, 245, 246, 247,
252 (death of)
Pius V. (Michele Ghisleri), 245,
252, 253
Placido de Sanguine, 149
Pole, Reginald, Cardinal, 149, 158,
159, 161, 170, 171, 202, 239, 240,
241, 251
Poggiola, Lucrezia, 169
Porrino, Gandolfo, 73, 99, 100,
102, 106, 239
Posilipo, 150, 247
Pozzuoli, 98, 189
Priuli, I,uigi, 187, 239, 251 (death
of)
Procida (Island), 113
Raineri, Annibale, 217, 218
Rinaldo, 221
Rangone, Lodovico, 82
Ravenna, 23, 201
Rene'e of France, Duchess of
Ferrara, 91, 163, 170
Ridolfo, Cardinal, no
Rivalta, 92
Rivarolo, 84, 236, 257
Rodolph II., Emperor, 264, 270
Rome, 18, 25-29, 52, 69, 72, 73, 74,
75, 81, 121, 128, 131, 157, 170,
188, 215, 229, 238, 253, 254, 255
Rossi, Troito, 203
Rota, Bernardino, 216
Rullo, Ronato, 149
Sabbioneta, city of, 1, 13, 16, 82,
90, 124, 195, 202, 204, 205, 214,
216, 219, 222-236, 257, 263-273
Sadoleto, Jacopo, Bishop of Car-
pentras, 35, 40, 54, 161
Salerno, Princess of, 136
Salviati, Bernardino, Cardinal,
no, 129
Jacopo, 43, 44
Salviati, Lucrezia (dei Medici), 43,
44
Maria, 43, 44, 69, 71, 109
San Sebastian, 263
Sanseverino, Dionora, 136
Prince of Bisignano, 138
Santander, 14
Santo Xisto, 239
Sanvitale, Galeazzo, 19, 81
Scamozzi, 270, 271
Schizzi, Monsignore, 272
Seripando, Girolamo, Cardinal,
214, 246, 247 (death of)
Seville, 263
Sicily, 124, 133, 197, 202
Siena, 140, 188
Sinigaglia, 25
Soragno, 81
Soranzo, Vittorio, Bishop, 106
Spadoforo of Messina, 149
Spain, 14, 112, 113, 193, 228, 269
Sperlonga (fishing village), 98,
113, 114, 118
Stigliano, Princess of, 136
Strozzi, Filippo, 69
Suleyman II., Sultan, in
Switzerland, 186, 246
Symonds, Addington, 148, 219
Tancredi, Onorata, 213, 249
Tansillo, Luigi, 178, 250
Tasso, Bernardo, 83, 96, 100, 102
Torquato, 195, 210, 216, 253
Terenziano, Giulia, 169
Terni, 25
Terouanne, 215
Terracina, 98, 117
Titian, 106, 109, 178, 179, 268
Tivoli, 127
Toledo, Don Pedro di, Viceroy of
Naples, 119, 135, 153, 188, 189,
190
Tolomei, Claudio, Secretary of
Cardinal Ippolito, 87, 100, 178
Toscanella, Orazio, 100
Trajetto (city of Giulia), 75, 88
Trebbio, 45
Trent, Council of, 198, 246, 247,
249
Tubingen, 251
Tufo, Lucrezia del, Princess of
Stigliano, 210
291
INDEX
Tunis, city of, 11S, 119, 120, 121,
127. 133
Turin, 215, 258
Urbino, city of, 100
Urbino, Elisabetta, Duchess of,
24, 51, 61
Francesca Maria, Duke of, 24
Guidobaldo, Duke of, 165,
166, 183
Leonora, Duchess of, 24
Valdes, Alfonso de, 140, 153
Juan de, 99, 140, 160, 163, 165,
166, 169, 186, 2ii, 214, 239,
240, 243, 255
Valladolid, 12
Vallecosa, 115
Varano, 165
Varchi (historian), 128, 129
Vasari, 106
Vasto, Marchese di (Alfonso d'
Avalos), 119, 135
Venice, 118, 119, 156, 170, 267, 270
Venier, Domenico, Venetian Am-
bassador, 35
Vergerio, Pietro Paolo, 149, 155,
156, 160, 251
Vermigli, Pietro Martire (Peter
Martyr), 149, 152, 169, 170, 171,
211, 238
Verona, 170, 213
Vespasiano Gonzaga Colonna.
See Colonna
Viadana, 209
Vicenza, 270, 271
Vicovaro, 94, 215
Villafranco, 203
Vincencio, Joanni, 201
Virgil, 37, 105
Visconti, Krcole, 259, 260, 262, 263,
264, 265
Viterbo, 53, 81, 99, 157, 158, 160,
162, 1 86
Vitruvius, 224, 226, 270
Vittorio del Feltre, 3
Voliano, 214
Waldenses, 238, 239
Zanichelli, Federico, 263
Zurich, 201
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